 Connecticut Farm Energy Program
**News** The Connecticut Farm Energy Program has it's own website now, check it out at www.ctfarmenergy.org
The Eastern CT RC&D Area, Inc. is partnering with USDA, Rural Development to provide Eastern CT Agricultural Producers and Agricultural based Small Business in New London and Windham Counties with assistance in grant writing to apply to Rural Devlopment for Rural Energy for America Program Grants (REAP Grants).
How can the CT Farm Energy Program help?
The CT Farm Energy Program has been designed to assist farmers and agricultural based small businessess once an energy audit has been completed. If an energy audit has yet to be completed the CT Farm Program is unable to assist. Once the energy audit is completed and a project has been designed with a budget the Connecticut Farm Energy Program can assist in the grant writing process, and the loan application process to the REAP Grant Program.
What is REAP?
To foster rural economic development and growth, Congress passed the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) known as Section 9007 of the 2008 Farm Bill. The REAP Grant Program provides grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. It also provides funds to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Rural small businesses and agricultural producers can apply for grants and guaranteed loans for financing renewable energy projects and energy efficiency improvements or grants for a stand alone feasibility study. To learn more about the USDA Rural Development Reap Grants you can visit them online.
How much are the Grants?
The grants are awarded on a national competitive basis and can be up to 25% of total eligible project costs. Grants are limited to $500,000 for renewable energy systems (2 million dollar project total) and $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements (1 million dollar project total). Grant requests can be as low as $2,500 for renewable energy systems (10,000 project total) and $1,500 for energy efficiency improvements ($6,000 project total) will be considered. 75% in matching funds of the project cost must be shown. Grant: 25% of total eligible costs, guaranteed loan: 75% of total eligible costs, combination grant and guaranteed loan: 75% of total eligible costs.
Who is Eligible?
The USDA Rural Development program is designed to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses that are able to demonstrate financial need. All agricultural producers, including farmers and ranchers, who gain 50% or more of their gross income from the agricultural operations are eligible. Small businesses that are located in a rural area can also apply. In order to qualify for the CT Farm Energy Program Assistance you must be an Agricultural Producer or Agricultural based Small Business located in Eastern Connecticut's New London and Windham Counties and meet grant qualifications.
What types of Projects are Eligible?
Most rural projects that reduce energy use and result in savings for the agricultural producer or small business are eligible as energy efficiency projects. These include projects such as retrofitting lighting or insulation, or purchasing or replacing equipment with more efficiency units. Eligible renewable energy projects include projects that produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydrogen-based sources. The projects can produce any form of energy including, heat, electricity, or fuel. Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance will allow agriculture producers and rural small businesses to become more energy efficient and use renewable technologies. For all projects, the system must be located in a rural area, must be technically feasible, and must be owned by the applicant.
Reference View:
Who is eligible?
Agricultural producers and Rural small businesses .
Eligible renewable energy projects?
Iinclude projects that produce energy from:
- wind
- biomass
- anaerobic digester
- ocean
- solar
- geothermal
- hydrogen
- hydroelectric
The renewable energy project can produce any form of energy, including heat, electricity, or fuel. The minimum project size for a renewable energy project is $10,000.
Eligible energy efficiency improvement projects?
Include improvements to a facility, building, or process that reduces energy consumption, such as retrofitting, lighting, or insulation, or purchasing or replacing equipment and motors with more efficient units. Energy efficiency projects must replace something that already exists. The minimum project size for an energy efficiency project is $6,000.
Projects cannot involve residential use. Project purchases incurred prior to submitting an application are not eligible.
For all projects:
- the system must be located in a rural area or community of less than 50,000 persons
- must be technically feasible
- must meet environmental requirements and
- must be owned by the applicant
How much assistance can be provided?
- Grant: 25% of total eligible costs
- Guaranteed Loan: 75% of total eligible costs
- Combination grant and guaranteed loan: 75% of total eligible costs
Minimum grant amounts:
- Renewable Energy projects: $2,500
- Energy Efficiency projects: $1,500
Maximum grant amounts:
- Renewable Energy projects: $500,000
- Energy Efficiency projects: $250,000
Minimum guaranteed loan amounts:
- Renewable Energy projects: $5,000
- Energy Efficiency projects: $5,000
Maximum guaranteed loan amounts:
- Renewable Energy projects: $25,000,000
- Energy Efficiency projects: $25,000,000
The 9007 REAP Program
Is a national competition for funds
For FY 2009 $55 million is available
For FY 2010 $60 million is available
For FY 2011 $70 million is available
For FY 2012 $70 million is available
Each year mandatory funds are allocated as follows:
4% for energy audit and renewable energy assistance
20% for grants of $20,000 or less
10% for feasibility studies
The balance of funds are for energy efficiency improvement projects or renewable energy projects of any size.
Upcoming Events:
Past Events:
Connecticut Farm Energy Program Informational Workshop
Join us July 23rd, 2009 to get qualified and be prepared to start the REAP Grant process. There will be 2 workshops that day, the first in Norwich @ 10:00 am and the second in Brooklyn @ 2:00pm. USDA Rural Development Staff and CT Farm Energy Staff will be on hand for an introductory meeting to the process and answer your questions and help you get started writing your REAP Grant. Followup appointments will be available to complete the grant application. Be sure to call and save a seat for yourself by contacting Amanda Fargo-Johnson @ 860-345-3977 or email ctfarmenergy@aol.com. CT Farm Energy Workshop Flyer (pdf)
Connecticut Farm Energy Program Informational Workshop/CANCELLED
Join us for a followup to the January 14th Meeting at ECSU. Come ready January 28th, 2009 and prepared to start the REAP Grant process. Grant writers will be on hand for an introductory meeting to the process and you will begin your grant that evening. We will also be making followup appointments to complete the grant application. Be sure to call and save a seat for yourself. CT Farm Energy Workshop Flyer (pdf)
Rural Development Informational Energy Seminar
Attention Agricultural Producers and Small Business Owners, tired of paying those high utility bills? Join us on January 14, 2009 @ Eastern CT State University as USDA, Rural Development, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund present information on programs that save energy and programs for renewable energy with funding opportunities. Workshop Flyer (pdf)
Event Calendar
Coming Soon!
Contact Us
Amanda Fargo-Johnson, Connecticut Farm Energy Coordinator
1006 Saybrook Road, PO Box 70
Haddam, CT 06438
Telephone: 860-345-3977
Email: ctfarmenergy@aol.com
Elizabeth Rogers, Eastern CT RC&D Area Coordinator
139 Wolf Den Road
Brooklyn, CT 06234
Telephone: 860-774-0224 ext 4
Email: elizabeth.rogers@ct.usda.gov
Joanne Demars, USDA Rural Development
Area Specialist
238 West Town Street
Norwich, CT 06360
Telephone: 860-859-5218 ext 205
Email: joanne.demars@ct.usda.gov
Resources and Links
USDA- Rural Development
USDA- NRCS- EQIP
CT Department of Agriculture/Ag Viability Grant
CT Clean Energy Fund
Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
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