Forty two Nebraska recipients have been selected to receive $832,303 in grant funding. Funds will be used to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements that will promote energy conservation.
Forty one awarded projects will make energy efficiency improvements and one will install renewable energy flexible fuel systems, a component new to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) this year. These awarded efficiency projects in Nebraska and nationwide, along with previously announced projects, are expected to lower energy usage by two billion kilowatts and prevent nearly two million metric tons of emissions from being released into the environment.
“These energy dollars will help make needed energy conservation improvements and install new renewable energy systems,” said Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development. “Through these projects, energy consumption will be reduced, thereby making more dollars available to be kept within rural Nebraska there by assisting the state’s rural economy.”
REAP provides opportunities for farmers and rural small business owners to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements, as well explore the feasibility of implementing renewable energy projects. Additional information on REAP may be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/Energy_energy_home.htm
Listed by county are the projects selected from the National Office allocation of funding. This release completes the REAP project awards for fiscal year 2011. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant and loan agreements.
Antelope
Billings, Ronald –Orchard- $16,733 grant- 2 Diesel irrigation engine conversions with 1 well rebowl.
Dwight Morrison Properties, LLC – Clearwater – $3,758 grant- Diesel irrigation engine to electric motor conversion.
Knuth, Claus –Royal- $20,000 grant- 4 Diesel irrigation engine conversions and 1 new irrigation well.
Morrison, Frank –Clearwater- $3,997 grant- Diesel irrigation engine to electric motor conversion.
Mullins, Greg –Pierce- $3,840 grant- Diesel engine conversion.
Rittscher, Jason –Elgin- $11,320 grant- 2 Diesel irrigation engines to electric motor conversions.
Schultz, Frederick –Clearwater- $3,324 grant- Diesel irrigation engine to electric motor conversion.
Werkmeister, Neil –Tilden- $5,287 grant- Diesel irrigation engine conversion.
Wildflower Farms, Inc. –Clearwater- $3,954 grant- Diesel irrigation engine to electric motor conversion.
Boone
O’Brien, Tim –Albion- $11,583 grant- 2 Diesel irrigation engine conversions.
Taake, Otto –Tilden- $5,466 grant- Diesel irrigation engine conversion.
Larry Rasmussen and Sons –Albion- $9,355 grant- 2 Diesel irrigation engines to electric motor conversions.
Holt
Kaup’s Elkhorn Dairy, Corp –Stuart- $7,498 grant- Irrigation motor conversion.
Kelly, Gilbert –Page- $3,791 grant- Irrigation motor conversion.
Kohle, James –Stuart- $4,186 grant- Irrigation motor conversion.
Thiele, Curt –Clearwater- $10,369 grant- Diesel irrigation engine to electric motor conversion with well rebowl.
Thompson, Everett –Page- $18,232 grant- 2 Diesel motor conversions with 1 well rebowl.
Troester, Aaron –O’Neill- $28,334 grant- 6 Irrigation motor conversions.
Madison
Oswald, Merlin –Madison- $2,557 grant- Diesel irrigation engine to electric motor conversion.
