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Hi Merle

Thank = you so very much!

Keep in touch.

Snow and John

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From: Merle StClaire <merle.stclaire@tmbci.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 10:53 AM
To: smelk@aicenergycorp.com &l= t;smelk@aicenergycorp.com>; johnmelk06@icloud.com <johnmelk06@icloud.= com>; jwilson@aicenergycorp.com <jwilson@aicenergycorp.com>
= Subject: FW: Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Clean Energy and Do= mestic Biofuels to Strengthen American Farms and Small Businesses as Part o= f Investing in America Agenda

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From: USDA Office of Communications <feedba= ck@usda.gov>=0A=
=0A= Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 8:32 AM
=0A= To: Merle StClaire <merle.stclaire@tmbci.org>
=0A= Subject: Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Clean Energy and Dom= estic Biofuels to Strengthen American Farms and Small Businesses as Part of= Investing in America Agenda
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Hi John, Snow, Jennifer=E2=80=A6I thought I would for= ward this on to you. Looks like some possibilities.
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Let me know.
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Thanks, Merle
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Biden-Harris Administration Invests in = Clean Energy and Domestic Biofuels to Strengthen American Farms and Small B= usinesses=0A= as Part of Investing in America Agenda=0A=
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Proj= ects Funded by President Biden=E2=80=99s Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower= Energy Costs and Expand Access to Cleaner Fueling Options
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ERIE, Pa., April 23, 2024 =E2=80=93 Today, in honor of Earth Day 2024, Agriculture Deputy= =0A= Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the U.S. Department of Agric= ulture (USDA) is funding more than 700=0A= =0A= clean energy projects t= o lower energy bills, expand access to domestic biofuels and create jobs an= d new market opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural prod= ucers. Many of the projects are funded by President=0A= Biden=E2=80=99s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation=E2=80=99s largest-ever= investment in combating the climate crisis.
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The projects advance President Biden=E2=80=99s=0A= Investing in America agenda to grow the nation=E2=80=99s economy fro= m the middle out and bottom up. They will create jobs and spur economic gro= wth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets,= lowering costs and build more clean energy=0A= projects.
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=E2=80=9CThe Biden-Harris Administration and USDA ar= e committed to expanding access to modern clean energy systems and fueling = options that strengthen the nation=E2=80=99s energy independence=0A= while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money,=E2=80=9D Deputy S= ecretary Torres Small said. =E2=80=9CAs we celebrate Earth Day this year, w= e are excited to partner with hundreds more family farms and small business= es to address the impacts of climate change, grow=0A= the economy and keep rural communities throughout the country strong and r= esilient.=E2=80=9D
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In all, USDA is providing $238 million in funding th= rough the=0A= =0A= Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the=0A= =0A= Higher Blends Infrastructure Incen= tive Program (HBIIP).
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Rural Clean Energy Production
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Torres Small announced more than $194 million in loa= ns and grants through REAP to support projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico=
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The REAP program helps agricultural producers and ru= ral small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and s= mall hydropower energy and make energy efficiency=0A= improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow thei= r businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American fa= milies.
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The REAP program is part of the President=E2=80=99s= =0A= =0A= Justice40 Initiative, w= hich aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate,= clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities = that are marginalized by underinvestment and=0A= overburdened by pollution.
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These investments will cut energy costs for family f= arms and other businesses, increasing their resiliency and allowing them to= invest back into their communities by creating=0A= new jobs and other opportunities. For example:
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=0A= =C2=B7   =0A= In Pennsylvania, Cel= lar =E2=80=9854 LLC will use a $49,000 grant to buy and install a 48-kilowa= tt solar photovoltaic system for its winery in the Lake Erie=0A= wine region in the borough of North East. This project is expected to save= the business approximately $4,500 annually and will generate more than 32,= 000 kilowatt hours per year.
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=0A= =C2=B7   =0A= In New Jersey, Oishi= i Mega Farm NJ LLC will use a $15 million loan to convert a vacant building= in Phillipsburg into an energy efficient production=0A= facility to grow Omakase and Koyo strawberries. The facility will include = a high-tech indoor vertical farming operation and facilities to harvest, pa= ckage, ship and distribute produce. The project will create 45 new jobs and= reduce operating costs by $150,000=0A= annually by being able to grow strawberries in a more efficient and contro= lled environment.
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=0A= =C2=B7   =0A= In Tennessee, Yarbro= Farms will use a $536,000 grant to install a 301.92-kilowatt ground-mounte= d solar array on its row crop farm in the city of Martin.=0A= The project is expected to save the family farm more than $32,000 annually= It will also save 406,900 kilowatt hours of energy per year, enough to po= wer 34 homes.
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USDA is making the REAP awards in Alabama, Arizona, = Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,= Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,=0A= Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexic= o, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tenn= essee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.<= /p>=0A=

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Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, = USDA has invested more than $2 billion through REAP to support renewable en= ergy and energy efficiency improvements that will=0A= help rural business owners lower energy costs, generate new income, and st= rengthen their resiliency of operations.
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USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will = hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding inc= ludes a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable=0A= energy technologies. For additional information, contact a =0A= local energy coordinator.
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Cleaner and More Affordable Fueling Options
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USDA is also awarding more than $43 million in grant= s through HBIIP to business owners to increase the availability of domestic= biofuels in 15 states and give Americans cleaner,=0A= more affordable fuel options.
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HBIIP provides grants to fueling station and distrib= ution facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilit= ies, to help expand access to domestic biofuels,=0A= a clean and affordable source of energy. These investments help business o= wners install and upgrade infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers and= storage tanks. For example:
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=0A= =C2=B7   =0A= In Pennsylvania, Cly= de S. Walton Inc. will use a grant of more than $810,000 to install a 30,00= 0-gallon biodiesel storage tank and loading equipment=0A= at its home heating oil distribution facility in Lansdale. This project is= expected to increase the amount of biodiesel sold by more than 5 million g= allons per year.
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=0A= =C2=B7   =0A= In Kansas, Blue Rive= r Valley LLC will use a $3 million grant to rebuild a pair of 2-million-gal= lon ethanol storage tanks and other equipment at a=0A= fuel distribution facility in Potwin. This project is expected to increase= the amount of ethanol sold by more than 238 million gallons per year.
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=0A= =C2=B7   =0A= In Minnesota, Twin C= ities Auto Repair & Gas LTD will use a $402,000 grant to install four E= 15 dispensers and two ethanol storage tanks at a fueling=0A= station in Burnsville. This project is expected to increase the amount of = ethanol sold by 996,000 gallons per year.
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USDA is making the HBIIP awards in California, Flori= da, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Yo= rk, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas=0A= and Wisconsin.
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Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, = USDA has invested approximately $135 million to increase access to biofuels= at fueling stations. In June 2023, USDA made $450=0A= million available in Inflation Reduction Act funding through the HBIIP to = expand the use and availability of higher-blend biofuels.
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USDA continues to accept applications for funding to= expand access to domestic biofuels. These grants will support the infrastr= ucture needed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for=0A= transportation fueling and distribution facilities to install and upgrade = biofuel-related infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers and storage tanks.= Applications are being accepted quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024.=0A=

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USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to = help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of = life for millions of Americans in rural areas.=0A= This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development= ; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health c= are; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas= Visit the=0A= =0A= Rural Data Gateway to l= earn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscr= ibe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the=0A= =0A= GovDelivery Subscriber page= .
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USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in = so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is trans= forming America=E2=80=99s food system with a greater focus=0A= on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for a= ll producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all c= ommunities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and prod= ucers using climate-smart food and=0A= forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clea= n energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the= Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more rep= resentative of America. To learn=0A= more, visit www.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and= lender.
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Department of Agriculture=0A= | 1400 Independ= ence Ave., S.W.,=0A= Washington, DC 2= 0250=0A=
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Un= subscribe=0A= merle.stclaire@tmbci.org
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Up= date=0A= Profile | =0A= Constant Contact Data Notice=
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