WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced grants for 70 farms and small businesses across rural and Greater Minnesota to install clean energy technology on their farms. This round of funding for Minnesota totals nearly $8 million. This initiative is possible through the Renewable Energy for America (REAP) program, which Senator Smith championed and strengthened in the Inflation Reduction Act.
“The clean energy transition is happening, and I want us to lead it,” said Senator Smith. “As we make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy, we need to make sure everyone benefits. That’s why programs like REAP, which helps rural communities install renewable energy systems, are so important. These investments will save farms and small businesses all across the state thousands of dollars a year in energy costs while helping reduce harmful emissions.”
Projects included can be found in the table below.
The funding is specifically set aside for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agriculture currently accounts for roughly one-quarter of Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Senator Smith continues to prioritize improvements to REAP, promote underutilized technologies, and help more farmers access the program. Senator Smith introduced the bipartisan, bicameral REAP Modernization Act which would increase the cost share for REAP grants, raise certain grant limits, and improve the accessibility of the program to farmers and small businesses.
Toplines
Total Investment: $7,875,510
Total in Energy Savings (kWh/Year): 5,975,000
Total in Energy Savings ($/Year): $692,900
| Farm/ Business Location | Amount | Project Description | Yearly Savings | Energy Savings in kilowatt hours |
| Hendrum, MN | $500,000 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $3,000 | 55,000kWh, enough to power 5 homes |
| Little Falls, MN | $415,240 | Purchase and install a 405kW solar array | $41,300 | 557,000kWh, enough to power 51 homes |
| Pequot Lakes, MN | $413,945 | Purchase and install a 400kW solar array | $35,000 | 550,00kWh, enough to power 50 homes |
| Dexter, MN | $369,661 | Purchase and install an energy efficient metal fabrication fiber laser | $12,000 | 64,400kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Olivia, MN | $312,660 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $6,300 | 80,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| New Richland, MN | 267,348 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $17,400 | 260,300kWh, enough to power 24 homes |
| Maynard, MN | $263,364 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $4,000 | 40,000kWh, enough to power 4 homes |
| Le Center, MN | $224,314 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $13,200 | 410,000kWh, enough to power 34 homes |
| Cosmos, MN | $220,000 | Purchase and install two 25kW wind turbines | $18,200 | 190,000kWh, enough to power 19 homes |
| Hector, MN | $220,000 | Purchase and install a 25kW wind turbine | $24,000 | 190,000kWh, enough to power 18 homes |
| Breckenridge, MN | $162,933 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $4,200 | 120,000kWh, enough to power 11 homes |
| Adrian, MN | $152,000 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $20,000 | 94,000kWh, enough to power 9 homes |
| Sherburn, MN | $150,008 | Purchase and install a 51kW solar array | $20,000 | 143,000kWh, enough to power 13 homes |
| Bejou, MN | $149,490 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $11,000 | 90,000kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| Madison, MN | $143,683 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $2,300 | 42,500kWh, enough to power 4 homes |
| Shevlin, MN | $134,490 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $11,000 | 90,000kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| Clearbrook, MN | $130,740 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $20,000 | 91,00kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| Euclid, MN | $130,740 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $20,000 | 90,000kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| South Haven, MN | $129,945 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $7,800 | 106,000kWh, enough to power 10 homes |
| Cleveland, MN | $126,875 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $12,000 | 91,000kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| Minnesota Lake, MN | $124,130 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $17,000 | 250,000kWh, enough to power 23 homes |
| Stewart, MN | $113,219 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $9,200 | 90,000kWh, enough to power 9 homes |
| Lino Lakes, MN | $112,257 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $5,000 | 140,000KWh, enough to power 13 homes |
| Hector, MN | $107,316 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $8,400 | 107,000kWh, enough to power 10 homes |
| Blue Earth, MN | $102,650 | Purchase and install a 57kW solar array | $16,000 | 70,200kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Lismore, MN | $99,582 | Purchase and install a geothermal heating and cooling system | $3,100 | 22,400kWh, enough to power 2 homes |
| Le Roy, MN | $96,315 | Purchase and install a 110kW solar array | $20,000 | 152,000kWh, enough to power 14 homes |
| Gibbon, MN | $93,733 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $500 | 10,000kWh, enough to power 1 home |
| Waterville, MN | $93,224 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $8,300 | 112,00kWh, enough to power 10 homes |
| Murdock, MN | $90,864 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $5,300 | 66,100kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Kenyon, MN | $89,622 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $13,200 | 260,000 kWh, enough to power 13 homes |
| Hector, MN | $88,625 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $8,600 | 66,000kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Taunton, MN | $86,009 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $11,000 | 160,000kWh, enough to power 14 homes |
| Janesville, MN | $85,796 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $8,000 | 70,000kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Wells, MN | $83,856 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $11,200 | 55,000kWh, enough to powe5 5 homes |
| Corcoran, MN | $80,020 | Purchase and install a 57kW solar array | $16,000 | 71,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| Farmington, MN | $77,900 | Purchase and install a 49kW solar array | $5,200 | 63,00kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Barnesville, MN | $76,660 | Purchase and install a 60kW solar array | $7,400 | 71,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| Dodge Center, MN | $75,450 | Purchase and install a 72kW solar array | $5,300 | 66,100kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Goodhue, MN | $69,475 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $4,600 | 111,300 kWh, enough to power 10 homes |
| Ellendale, MN | $67,500 | Purchase and install a 54kW solar array | $8,600 | 75,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| Hadley, MN | $67,296 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $4,500 | 61,100kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Ghent, MN | $64,991 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $7,700 | 104,000kWh, enough to power 10 homes |
| Janesville, MN | $61,850 | Purchase and install a 20kW solar array | $6,500 | 39,000kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Sauk Centre, MN | $61,100 | Purchase and install a 55kW solar array | $5,300 | 72,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| Rose Creek, MN | $59,000 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $8,300 | 75,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| Rushford, MN | $57,490 | Purchase and install a 48kW solar array | $13,300 | 67,100kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Blooming Prairie, MN | $55,929 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $20,300 | 68,100kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| New Richland, MN | $55,630 | Purchase and install a 20kW solar array | $5,000 | 35,000 kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Ogilvie, MN | $55,350 | Purchase and install a 35kW solar array | $5,400 | 48,000kWh, enough to power 4 homes |
| Steen, MN | $54,750 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $7,000 | 90,100kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| Bowlus, MN | $54,730 | Purchase and install a 70kW solar array | $12,000 | 90,000kWh, enough to power 8 homes |
| Sargeant, MN | $53,693 | Purchase and install a 51kW solar array | $11,400 | 71,000kWh, enough to power 7 homes |
| Cleveland, MN | $52,900 | Purchase and install a 46kW solar array | $6,000 | 62,00kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Austin, MN | $51,475 | Purchase and install a 50kW solar array | $9,100 | 64,00kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Stewartville, MN | $50,903 | Purchase and install a 49kW solar array | $9,000 | 65,000kWh, enough to power 6 homes |
| Stewartville, MN | $49,873 | Purchase and install a 35kW solar array | $6,000 | 40,000kWh, enough to power 4 homes |
| Waseca, MN | $48,958 | Purchase and install a 30kW solar array | $9,000 | 31,000 kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Lake City, MN | $48,550 | Purchase and install a 30kW solar array | $4,300 | 40,00kWh, enough to power 4 homes |
| Minnesota Lake, MN | $41,323 | Purchase and install a 20kW solar array | $3,500 | 26,00kWh, enough to power 2 homes |
| Faribault, MN | $38,936 | Purchase and install a 20kW solar array | $6,600 | 30,000 kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Hutchinson, MN | $31,071 | Purchase and install a 27kW solar array | $3,100 | 35,000kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| St. Peter, MN | $30,925 | Purchase and install a 26kW solar array | $3,000 | 35,000kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Prior Lake, MN | $30,312 | Purchase and install a 24kW solar array | $3,400 | 32,00kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Harmony, MN | $28,524 | Purchase and install a 30kW solar array | $5,000 | 33,00kwH, enough to power 3 homes |
| Rice, MN | $26,753 | Purchase and install a 40kW solar array | $13,00 | 52,000kWh, enough to power 5 homes |
| Freeport, MN | $26,487 | Purchase and install a 20kW solar array | $5,000 | 35,00kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Clara City, MN | $22,969 | Purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer | $3,600 | 49,000kWh, enough to power 4 homes |
| Spring Valley, MN | $22,103 | Purchase and install a 21.6kW solar array | $5,300 | 27,000kWh, enough to power 2 homes |
| Harmony, MN | $20,000 | Purchase and install a 20kW solar array | $6,400 | 33,500kWh, enough to power 3 homes |
| Grand Rapids, MN | $20,000 | Purchase and install a 15kW solar array | $2,000 | 20,000kWh, enough to power 2 homes |
English