Wed, 04/24/2024 - 13:15

Past recipients, farmers Cooper Funk and Marina Sideris of Dooryard Farm, pose with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, White House Senior Advisor Cindy Axne, and USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson during a tour of the farm to discuss its use of solar power to power the farm and farmstand.(Photo courtesy USDA Rural Development)

Past REAP recipient Jeff Wolovitz, of Heiwa Tofu, shares a story with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson who were visiting the tofu manufacturing facility to learn about its use of solar power partially funded by REAP grants. (Photo courtesy USDA Rural Development)

MIDCOAST MAINE — Multiple Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo County businesses are among 20 Maine businesses to share in $2.1 million in grants to Maine farms and rural small businesses in ten counties. The grants will help pay for projects that will lower energy costs for the businesses and increase their resilience.

The announcement was made April 23, in honor of Earth Day 2024, by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson.

“We’re excited to help twenty Maine farms and businesses transition to clean energy with these awards,” said Director Hampson. “Most of the grants we’re announcing today will help fund roof-mounted photovoltaic panels which is an innovative way to make the best use of infrastructure in rural communities. Reducing our state’s reliance on fossil fuels and limiting greenhouse gas emissions, while also preserving critical farmland and valuable natural habitats, will benefit all Mainers.”

In Pennsylvania, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced more than $194 million in loans and grants through REAP to support projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico.

The Maine investments will impact a range of farms and businesses. Among the grant recipients are five farms, four builders, two contractors, two heating companies, three auto businesses, and four other small businesses. Currently, REAP pays for no more than half of any given project, so each company will be contributing at least as much as the grant they receive. Together the businesses will be investing $2.4M to match the $2.1M awarded in grants.

Examples of projects are:

Junction Garden LLC in Vassalboro will receive a $15,536 grant and contribute $44K for a project to expand the organic vegetable farm’s existing solar array.

Searsport Motor Company Inc. in Searsport will receive a $62,825 grant and contribute $63K for a project to add a new roof-mounted solar array to supply 100% of the business’s electricity needs.

Doles Orchard Boxshop LLC in Limington will receive a $15,879 grant and contribute $31K for a project to install a roof-mounted solar array to supply 100% of the farm and custom woodshop’s electricity needs.

Through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), USDA provides grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.

The Department expects to make additional awards in the coming months. The next deadline for REAP applications is July 1, 2024. USDA continues to accept applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes $144.5 million for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see the REAP Program Fact Sheet or contact Katrina Shaw, USDA Rural Development Maine State Energy Coordinator (email Katrina.shaw@usda.gov or call 207-990-9129).

USDA REAP Awards Announced:

Grant Recipient	Town	Grant Amount	Project Cost Covered by Business
Douglas H. Macgilpin LLC	Brunswick	$52,059	$54,060
Winslow Farm LLC	Falmouth	$14,866	$24,710
McDonell Brothers Custom Builders LLC	Windham	$12,600	$14,600
Brancatos Heating Inc.	Brunswick	$19,188	$54,612
S.R. Tracy Inc.	Northeast Harbor	$38,700	$41,200
James & Whitney LLC	Chelsea	$942,950	$942,950
Junction Garden LLC	Vassalboro	$15,536	$43,899
Copeland's Garage Inc.	Warren	$70,000	$70,000
The Hatchet Mountain Garage Inc.	Hope	$21,080	$56,645
NC Hunt Inc.	Jefferson	$422,307	$440,740
Whynot Farm LLC	Holden	$14,641	$24,935
Maine Alternative Comfort Corp.	Bangor	$47,750	$50,250
Boca Builders LLC	Woolwich	$13,783	$36,117
Browne Family Enterprises Inc.	Madison	$22,759	$46,833
Patricia Reid (Reid Family Beef Farm)	Thorndike	$30,190	$77,710
Taylor-Made Builders Inc.	Northport	$168,709	$191,291
G + O Logic LLC	Belfast	$77,397	$82,197
Searsport Motor Company Inc.	Searsport	$62,825	$62,825
Jeffrey F. Littlefield	Belfast	$13,601	$66,299
Doles Orchard Boxshop LLC	Limington	$15,879	$30,844

Knox and Waldo counties

Grant Recipient	Town	Grant Amount	Project Cost Covered by Business	County	Description
Copeland's Garage Inc.	Warren	$70,000	$70,000	Knox	This Rural Development investment will be used to help Copeland's Garage Inc. in Warren, Maine, install a new 46 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $7,127 per year. It will generate 78,040 kilowatt hours (100+ percent of the business energy use) per year.
The Hatchet Mountain Garage Inc.	Hope	$21,080	$56,645	Knox	This Rural Development investment will be used to help The Hatchet Mountain Garage Inc. in Hope, Maine, install a new 23.4 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $3,621 per year. It will generate 24,890 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent) of the business energy use) per year.
Patricia Reid (Reid Family Beef Farm)	Thorndike	$30,190	$77,710	Waldo	This Rural Development investment will be used to help Patricia Reid dba Reid Family Beef Farm in Thorndike, Maine, install a new 28.8 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $5,496 per year. It will generate 32,8520 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent of the business energy use) per year.
Taylor-Made Builders Inc.	Northport	$168,709	$191,291	Waldo	This Rural Development investment will be used to help Taylor-Made Builders Inc. in Northport, Maine, install a new 119 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $36,668 per year. It will generate 149,105 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent) of the business energy use) per year.
G + O Logic LLC	Belfast	$77,397	$82,197	Waldo	This Rural Development investment will be used to help G + O Logic LLC, a small custom home building company in Belfast, Maine, install a new 48 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $12,430 per year. It will generate 52,780 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent) of the business energy use) per year.
Searsport Motor Company Inc.	Searsport	$62,825	$62,825	Waldo	This Rural Development investment will be used to help SEARSPORT MOTOR COMPANY INC. in Searsport, Maine, install a new 53.87 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic system. It will generate 50,855 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent of the business energy use) per year. This project is expected to save $6,302 per year.
Jeffrey F. Littlefield	Belfast	$13,601	$66,299	Waldo	This Rural Development investment will be used to help Jeffrey F. Littlefield, a small real estate business in Belfast, Maine, install a new 24kW roof mount solar photovoltaic system. It will generate 29,170 kilowatt hours (over 100 percent of the business energy use) per year.