“President Obama and I are committed to helping rural businesses become more energy efficient – it’s good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for the workers and customers who depend on the goods and services these businesses provide,” Vilsack said. “While the REAP grants will continue to provide an important jump start to a clean, renewable energy future, Congress must act to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation to create the green jobs our economy needs and get our nation on the path to being truly energy independent.”

Renewable energy funding from USDA has helped many rural businesses. For example, Meadowbrook Acres Inc., used a $4,148 USDA grant to install a reverse osmosis system in fall 2007. The system has been operating well and has already saved Meadowbrook 3,884 gallons of fuel oil while producing 1,011 gallons of maple syrup. A reverse osmosis system takes water out of the maple sap, which reduces boiling time during the syrup production.

For this round of funding, USDA has selected Michael Satterstrom, in Cottage Grove, Oregon, for a $13,380 grant to install a solar photovoltaic system at his farm. The system will generate 8,400 kilowatts of electricity and reduce the farm’s energy usage by nearly 60% annually.

In Newton, Kansas WK Real Estate LLC has been selected for a $3,670 grant to install new energy efficient lighting. This project highlights the fact that replacing existing lighting with energy efficient lighting is one of the easiest measures businesses can take to reduce their utility bills. Rural Development’s grant will enable WK Real Estate to lower its electric bill by more than 50%.

REAP loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits. Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement. The following is a complete list of REAP recipients announced on September 24, 2009. Following are the some of the grants awarded.

Alabama:

Rickey Pack Farm – $12,500

Alaska:

Choggiung, Ltd. – $20,000

Klauder & Company Architects, Inc. – $4,800

Laida Alpacas – $4,100

Ship Captain’s View – $4,800

Arizona:

DC Cattle Company, LLC – $17,964

English Ranch – $16,495

Humbolt Water System, Inc. – $19,773

Sycamore Ranch – $19,927

Valley Lodge – $13,424

Arkansas:

Green Technologies, Inc. – $9,850

Louise Morris – $5,835

Preston Smith – $16,132

Weitkamp Farms – $6,220

California:

Carl J. Kruppa dba Kruppa Farms – $19,747

J.T. Farms – $19,954

Live Oak Farms – $12,500

Pryor Farms, LLC – $13,270

Colorado:

Advance Canvas Designs, LLC – $13,071

Dan Merewether – $11,575

Finger Rock, LLC – $14,875

Jack’s Grocery Store – $2,472

KR, LLC – $10,000

Niwot Corporation dba Specialty Products – $5,270

Telluride Energy, LLC – $20,000

Vagabond Community Partners, LLC – $11,916

Wagon Wheel Associated, Inc. $300,008 grant; $600,000 loan

Delaware:

Lost Creek Land & Cattle Company – $10,816

Vintage Metalwork, Inc. – $15,000

Georgia:

Adam Nguyen – $8,030

Alpha Energy – $378,219 grant; $600,000 loan

Carlock Farms, LLC – $17,263

Charlie Lindsey JR Farms – $13,613

Clay McDaniel Farms – $7,450

David Heard – $19,807

Dry Creek Farms – $4,662

Freddy Lott – $ 3,635

George Lohr Poultry – $2,983

Herrin Communities, Inc. – $20,000

Herrin Family Farm LLP – $4,392

Howard Swanson, Jr. – $20,000

J.C. Thaggard – $8,629

James Bradley – $12,822

Jerry & Jeff Heard Farms – $13,159

Lumsden Properties, LLC – $18,998

Pedenville-Pike Properties, LLC – $19,932

Persimmon Creek Vineyards – $18,414

Pineview Peanut Company – $7,211

Pippin Farms, LLC – $19,850

West Wind Farm – $20,000

Hawaii:

Dean Wilhelm dba Kapunawaiola – $19,395

Hirako Farms, Inc. – $18,375

Kona Natural Soap Company, LLC – $7,538

Idaho:

Bart Christensen – $3,991

Danso, LLC – $19,151

Dart’s True Value – $2,436

Fischer Hardware, Inc. – $1,770

GTBC, LLC – $8,750

JCH, Inc. dba Grocery Outlet – $6,975

LSI, LLC – $11,276

Lynch Land Development – $20,000

May Hardware, Inc. – $4,779

Peter Lewis Enterprises, Inc. – $7,077

Standlee Hay Incorporated – $8,730

Ten Cascade, Inc. – $5,188

Varley Farms, Inc. – $20,000

Whistle Stop – $1,696

Illinois:

Alan Dale – $35,318 grant; $35,318 loan

Alan Streitmatter – $48,338 grant, $48,338 loan

Andy Hunt – $49,799 grant, $49,799 loan

Bomke Farms – $19,939

Brian Bonneur – $17,895

Brian Loeffler – $33,467 grant; $66,935 loan

Brian Wenzel – $36,399 grant; $36,399 loan

Burgener Farms – $19,314

C. Richard Baum, III – $24,019 grant; $48,038 loan

Carl Neubauer – $19,875

D&G Stauffenberg Farms, Inc. – $49,916 grant, $49,916 loan

Danville Gardens, Inc. – $17,731

Darren Schnitker – $19,999

David Vietmeier – $32,497 grant; $32,497 loan

Dean Bacon and Beef – $14,139

Devries Farms – $19,881

Doug Mitchell – $50,000 grant, $50,000 loan

Golden Brothers – $49,908 grant; $49,908 loan

Grain Farms Incorporated – $14,998

Grubbs Farms, Inc. – $32,119 grant; $49,303 loan

Hendren Farm Partnership – $19,880

Jeffrey Lane – $26,498 grant; $26,498 loan

John & Julie Bickelhaupt – $9,951

John Clelend – $9,608

John Hartman – $20,000

John Murphy – $41,159 grant; $82,319 loan

Kendrick Farm, Inc. – $19,691

Kirk Anderson – $17,355

Larry Kirkman – $49,769 grant, $49,769 loan

Mark Burrow – $20,000

Mark Carlson – $17,151

Matthew Frieden – $36,701 grant; $47,345 loan

Mid American Growers, Inc. – $375,000 grant; $750,000 loan

Mitchell Family Farms – $15,564

ODK Wagenknecht Farms – $20,000

Ohl Brothers Farms, LLC – $114,662 grant; $229,325 loan

O’Neal Brothers – $19,825

Rich Kiefer – $19,832

Ronald Merema – $18,000

Ronald Rumbold – $24,855 grant; $49,710 loan

Seth Sleezer, VI – $34,597 grant; $34,597 loan

Sheffey Farms, Inc. – $48,032 grant, $49,913 loan

Todd Sommer – $19,522

Tom Schuldt – $49,750 grant; $49,750 loan

Tyron Fairley – $40,000 grant, $50,000 loan

Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative – $19,291

Wenger Farms, Inc. – $39,612 grant; $39,612 loan

Wilhelmi Farms – $18,868