TEMPLE, TEXAS, Jan. 28, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA Rural Development has selected to fund 68 study grants nationwide to determine the feasibility of renewable energy projects.  The grants cover all five regions identified by the Secretary in his October speech to the National Press Club. In all, studies will be funded in 27 states and the Western Pacific. Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program under the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Obama Administration is committed to helping our nation become more energy independent by helping rural businesses build renewable energy systems," said Vilsack. "The projects announced today will provide rural small businesses and agricultural producers the opportunity to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy system installations. These investments will not only help our farmers and small businesses reduce energy costs, but also help find renewable alternatives to generate energy.”

“Energy efficiency improvements are a useful tool for increasing farm or business productivity while reducing costs,” said Paco Valentin, USDA Rural Development Texas State Director.  “We’re excited to support these feasibility studies that will in turn help rural farmers and businesses become more self sufficient, and provide new energy sources throughout Texas.

In Texas, four recipients will benefit from this funding announcement.  American Ventures Energy, of Mills County, was awarded $46,826 and Brock Investment Group, of Chambers County, $48,877 in grant funding through the program. Both of the recipients will use their grants to study and analyze wind energy systems to determine the feasibility of each becoming operating wind farms. 

Select Milk Producers, Inc., of Hale County, was approved for a $17,500 grant to be used to analyze all aspects of an anaerobic digester project.  This project includes evaluating the conversion of biogas to electricity, compressed natural gas for injection into natural gas pipelines and the potential of using compressed natural gas as a diesel fuel replacement. 

Lastly, Nurture, LLC, of Bexar County, was awarded a $50,000 grant through this program to be used to evaluate the economic, market, technical, financial and management attributes for the purchase and installation of auxiliary Solar Power systems. 

REAP loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits. More information on the REAP program, which was authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, is at:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapGrants.html.