Baldwin Delivers Over $24 Million to Cut Energy Costs, Make Upgrades at Wisconsin Farms and Rural Businesses

WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced over a dozen Wisconsin farmers and small rural business owners will receive more than $24 million in funding to make energy efficiency improvements, cut costs, and strengthen the resiliency of their operations.

“Investing in these energy upgrades is a win-win for our Made in Wisconsin businesses who are saving money and increasing the resiliency of their operations,” said Senator Baldwin. “I know our farms and small businesses – particularly in rural areas – drive our economy, and I am working hard to help them cut their energy costs, increase their efficiency, and continue to support the livelihoods of so many hard-working Wisconsinites.”

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – which received a $2 billion boost through the Baldwin-backed Inflation Reduction Act. Through the REAP program, USDA provides grants and loans to help agriculture producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements.

In 2023, Senator Baldwin announced more than 50 farms benefitting from REAP grants. Today’s announcement comes in addition to over 50 farms and businesses that have already received REAP funding this year alone in April, May, and June, totaling over $5 million in direct support that Senator Baldwin delivered for Made in Wisconsin businesses.

Thirteen farms and businesses in Wisconsin were awarded REAP grants and loans today, including:

Spring Lake Farms Inc. in Marquette County – $84,002 grant to help Spring Lake Farms Inc., an ag producer in Neshkoro, Wisconsin, purchase and install a more energy-efficient grain dryer. This project is expected to save the producer $15,086 per year.

Tinedale Project LLC in Brown County – $22,638,000 loan to be used to develop and operate a dairy manure anaerobic digester located in Brown County, Wisconsin. The digester is projected to capture 128,787MM British Thermal Units of bio-methane. The methane will be converted to renewable natural gas on site then transported through a local utility natural gas pipeline. The project is expected to create three jobs.

Fairway To Heaven LLC in Calumet County – $91,553 grant to help Fairway to Heaven LLC in Sherwood, Wisconsin, install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save $3,105 per year.

Knutson Family Farms Inc. in Pierce County – $203,096 grant to help Knutson Family Farms Inc. install a more energy efficient grain dryer. The farming operation is based in Beldenville, Wisconsin and this project is expected to save $22,670 per year. It will save 499,631 kilowatt hours (kWh) (69 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 46 homes.

Macdonald & Owen Veneer and Lumber Co. in Polk County – $747,432 grant to help MacDonald & Owen Veneer and Lumber Co. Inc. install a solar electric array. This rural small business operates in Luck, Wisconsin and the project is expected to save $113,355 per year. It will replace 1,352,565 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 124 homes.

A full list of Wisconsin businesses receiving USDA REAP funding today is available here.

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