Tennessee rural businesses get $2M in grants to save energy
RIPLEY, Tenn. (AP) – Rural businesses and farms in Tennessee are being awarded nearly $2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help them save energy.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the awards this week for the Rural Energy for America Program. It was created by Congress in the 2002 Farm Bill and funds rural energy efficiency improvements and renewable-energy systems.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/1PPk03L ) 34 Tennessee projects won the grants.
They include Parker Farms in Ripley, which is receiving $45,000 to help finance installation of a 50 kilowatt solar system. The system was installed late last year and has lowered the grain farm’s electric bill by nearly $10,000 a year.
Nationwide, the program is providing $102 million in loan guarantees and $71 million in grants for 1,114 projects.
