(Frankfort) Governor Steve Beshear today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $500,000 in grants to 43 Kentucky farm families and rural small businesses to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations.“These investments are important to Kentucky’s agriculture and rural economy,” said Gov. Beshear. “They will provide enormous benefit to Kentucky’s farm families and rural small businesses as they face rising energy costs.”
These awards were made through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a 2008 Farm Bill Initiative. REAP offers funds for farmers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. Kentucky’s awards were a part of more than $11.6 million in energy grants announced today by USDA.
Funding of each award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement. Grants can finance up to 25 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed $500,000 for renewables, and $250,000 for efficiency.
