CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $102,080 IN FEDERAL RURAL ENERGY AWARDS TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN CRAWFORD & PEACH COUNTIES

MACON, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, is pleased to announce that two small businesses in Middle Georgia were awarded $102,080 through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The federal funds were made possible by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act which the Congressman supported.

REAP supports farmers, ranchers, and businesses in rural communities to make investments in renewable energy, generate new income, and strengthen the resilience of their operations.

“Through REAP, the federal government can partner with farmers, ranchers, and small businesses in rural communities to diversify our energy grid making it more resilient in times of disaster and making energy more affordable for our families,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am delighted that these investments will help these Crawford County and Peach County businesses. I will fight in Congress make sure REAP continues to be there to help our communities grow.”

The new U.S. House leadership has put forward a Fiscal Year 2024 spending bill that will cut the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) by $500 million and raise energy costs for 15,000 farmers and rural small businesses across the United States, cutting $18,427,992 directly from Georgia. Congressman Bishop is leading the effort to protect REAP so that it continues to be available to farmers, ranchers, and small businesses so that they can become more energy self-sufficient.

Super Lawn Trucks, Inc. and a Crawford County poultry farmer in Roberta, GA, are being awarded $20,000 and $82,080, respectively. Both will be using their awards to invest in solar arrays that will save them $2,528 and $12,190 a year, respectively. Their combined projects will generate energy equivalent to that needed to power 13 homes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it is investing $266 million across 47 states through REAP. This investment in rural energy upgrades was made possible by the historic Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – a law that is helping millions of families save costs on energy, electric vehicles, health insurance premiums, and prescription drugs.

USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program will continue to accept competitive applications until September 30, 2023, and will reopen applications quarterly through September 2024: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans

Questions about REAP? You can contact your State Rural Development Energy Coordinator here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf

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