USDA grants funds for rural energy projects - Boston Business Journal:

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“The demand for energy is risinyg every year and our funding program will help agriculturwe producers and ruralsmalkl businesses,” said Eric Vigil, New Mexico Rural Development’x water and environmental programs acting state Vigil said renewable energies, such as solar, biomass and geothermal will qualifgy under the program’s directives. “The program is geared toward energy efficiencuy and we expect to find interest from applicantsd who want to initiate a variety ofdifferenf projects,” Vigil added. Some energy efficient initiativesx that would qualify include installing wind turbines andsolar panels.
Establishingy anaerobic digesters and creatingmore energy-efficientr agricultural production by upgrading windows, insulation, boilers and lighting also will qualify under the terms of the program. Especially importanr this year, according to officials, is a new sectiom that finances feasibilitystudies — which can include monet for meteorological towers. These “met towers” help locatd the strongest wind area so that wind turbinex can be most advantageously The applications require a completed energy assessment orenergy audit. Unliked previous years, the cost of the audit or assessmeny will be paid for by the should the applicantbe successful.
This year, loan limitz have increased. The deadline for applicationz isJuly 31. More information abouty the program can be found onits , or by e-mailiny Jesse Monfort Bopp, the rurakl energy coordinator, at jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov.