USDA Invests $18 Million in Iowa Clean Energy Projects

By Andi Anderson

The USDA Rural Development has announced an investment of $18,211,903 in 183 clean energy projects across Iowa through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The funding aims to reduce energy bills, create jobs, and enhance competition for agricultural producers and small businesses in rural areas. 

The projects include a variety of initiatives such as solar installations and energy efficiency improvements. Some notable examples of the awarded grants in Iowa include: 

• CS Solar LLC: A $206,792 grant for installing a 29-kilowatt rooftop solar system and a 164-kilowatt ground solar system in Decorah. The project is expected to generate $40,987 per year in energy sales. 
• Red Lion Creston Schools Solar LLC: A $1,000,000 grant for installing solar arrays totaling 1,771 kilowatts in Creston. The project is estimated to generate 2,346,020 kilowatt hours per year, equivalent to powering 216 homes. 
• Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy LLC: A $1,000,000 grant for a slurry heating and reduced backset system at its dry-mill ethanol production facility in rural Pottawattamie County. The project anticipates annual savings of $3,181,600 and replacing 36,688,453 kilowatt hours per year. 
• Red Lion Knoxville Waterworks Solar LLC: An $800,000 grant for installing solar arrays totaling 1,056 kilowatts at six locations in Knoxville. The project is expected to generate 1,340,560 kilowatt hours per year, amounting to $81,499 per year. 
• Mara Transport Inc.: A $21,949 grant for installing a 34.6-kilowatt solar array for business needs in Marshall County. The project is projected to save $5,584.67 per year and replace 33,968 kilowatt hours—100 percent of the business energy usage—per year. 

The funding is part of the larger Inflation Reduction Act, which is a significant investment in climate action and rural electrification. The Biden-Harris Administration aims to expand clean energy, create jobs, and address the climate crisis through initiatives like REAP. The program provides grants and loans to support the use of wind, solar, and other clean energy sources, as well as energy efficiency improvements. 

REAP applications are still being accepted, with funding competitions scheduled quarterly through September 30, 2024. The initiative is aligned with the Justice40 Initiative, ensuring that benefits from federal investments reach marginalized and underserved communities. 

Photo Credit: USDA