U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Friday that Maine will be receiving a total of $4.3 million in federal funding to make “clean energy investments,” primarily in the form of solar panels.
Comprising this funding are more than forty separate grants to businesses and one nearly $2 million loan to West Gardiner SPV for a ground-mounted solar project.
These awards come through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
According to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), the Inflation Reduction Act made “the single largest investment in climate and energy in American history, enabling America to tackle the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice, securing America’s position as a world leader in domestic clean energy manufacturing.”
REAP is designed to provide “grants and loans to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to help them make energy efficiency improvements and install renewable systems that save money and are more environmentally friendly.”
Click Here for a Complete List of Awards
“This investment from the Biden-Harris Administration will help Maine farms and small businesses install renewable energy systems that will save them money and protect our environment – a win-win,” said Gov. Janet Mills (D) in a press release Friday.
“In turn, our farms and small businesses can take their savings and invest them back into their operations and employees so they can grow and thrive,” Gov. Mills said. “I thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Vilsack for the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in history – which made these grants to Maine farms and businesses possible.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with people in rural communities across our nation to expand access to clean energy and save rural Americans money,” said Secretary Vilsack. “We are hard at work, continuing what we’ve always done, supporting rural small businesses and farmers as they create jobs for their communities and drive economic prosperity.”
“Maine’s farmers and small businesses are the backbone of our rural, tight-knit communities and economies,” said Sen. Angus King (I). “As we continue to see the impacts from climate change, we have the opportunity to revitalize these communities by investing in green, clean energy solutions for our foresters, agriculture workers and rural small business owners.”
“This grant from [REAP], will play a big role in combating climate change while also saving folks money,” Sen. King said. “It is exciting to see the continued investments coming into Maine from the Inflation Reduction Act, and with this level of federal support we can continue to help our rural communities thrive.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act marks the most significant investment in rural electrification since the 1936 Rural Electrification Act and is making tremendous progress helping rural and agricultural communities to shift toward clean energy,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree. (D).
“Thanks to this landmark legislation championed by Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration, the Rural Energy for America Program is helping businesses and producers in Maine and across the country reduce their carbon footprints and cut their utility costs at the same time,” Rep. Pingree said. “Congratulations to all of these well-deserving Maine businesses which now have the resources to be part of the climate solution.”
“With the support of the Biden-Harris Administration and under the leadership of Secretary Vilsack, the USDA has invested in an unprecedented amount of federal funding opportunities that align with our departmental priorities to support our constituents. We are tremendously grateful for that,” said Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal.
Click Here to Read Gov. Mills’ Full Press Release
Earlier this year, Maine received $62 million in federal funding to increase the accessibility of solar power for low-income households throughout the state.
This grant cames as part of the $7 billion Solar for All competition funded by the Inflation Reduction Act’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is administered through the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[RELATED: Maine Receives $62 Million Federal Grant to Expand Solar Power Access for Low-Income Households]
According to the two-page summary of Maine’s Solar for All application, the state plans to pursue three primary goals with these funds.
First, the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) intends to create “new incentives for residential rooftop solar and energy storage” in “affordable multifamily housing” and “low-income and disadvantaged single-family homes.”
Second, it plans to provide “new technical and financial assistance to support cooperatively-owned community solar” in order to allow participation “in solar energy ownership without barriers of homeownership or rooftop suitability.”
Lastly, the office will establish a “new community solar and energy storage program focused on serving low-income and disadvantaged households.”
