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Rural Development Invests $24.5 Million through Grants & Loan Guarantees in Climate-Smart Infrastructure to Impact Maine’s Rural Communities

Release Date

Rural Development Invests $24.5 Million through Grants & Loan Guarantees in Climate-Smart Infrastructure to Impact Maine’s Rural Communities

SHREWSBURY, Pa., Dec. 03, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is investing $633 million to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities. As part of the Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying jobs and combating the climate crisis top priorities. In Maine, $24,524,396 is being invested in renewable energy and energy efficiency through guaranteed loans and grants.

“Rural America is on the front lines of climate change, and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen all of our resilience,” Vilsack said. “President Biden has created a roadmap for how we can tackle the climate crisis and expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs. With the Build Back Better agenda, USDA will be able to fund more and more critical projects like those announced today in the coming months and years.”

USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Tommy R. Higgins said, “The Maine businesses receiving Rural Development funding are diverse. From a rural car dealer, to a grocery store, to a potato grower and distributor, and beyond, Maine businesses are stepping up to incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency into their operations, showing the public they care about the environment and creating a sustainable future for Maine’s communities.”

The following businesses in Maine are receiving Rural Energy for America Program Grant funding:

  • Stanley Subaru, Inc., in Trenton, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $64,781. This Rural Development investment will be used to help the new and used car dealership to install a new solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $24,494 per year and replace 178,620 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 16 homes.

  • Best for Less, Inc., dba Save-A-Lot, in Caribou, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $44,591. This Rural Development investment will be used to help the business to install a solar photovoltaic system. Save-A-Lot is a discount grocery store with low prices on fresh fruit, veggies, quality meats and carefully selected grocery items. This project is expected to save $53,296 per year and produce 427,777 kilowatt hours (73 percent of the business energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 39 homes.
  • Irving Farms, Inc., in Caribou, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $153,295. This Rural Development investment will be used to help Irving Farms, Inc, to install a new solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $56,956 per year and produce 478,748 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the farm energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 44 homes. Irving Farms, Inc. grow, handle and pack all sizes of White, Russet, Red, and Yellow potatoes for the fresh market, and distribute and market processing potatoes and all varieties of Foundation and Certified Seed & Grain from Maine and other Eastern growing origins. 
  • Soderberg Company, Inc., in Caribou, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $140,213. This Rural Development investment will be used to help Soderberg Company, Inc, a heavy earthwork construction company, to install a new solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $59,499 per year and produce 435,638 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 40 homes.
  • Corey Rioux & Sons, in Fort Kent, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $32,560. This Rural Development investment will be used to help the business, a potato grower, shipper and packer, to install a new solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $13,735 per year and replace 98,504 kilowatt hours (76 percent of the farm energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power nine homes.
  • Savory’s, dba Belfast Harbor Inn, in Belfast, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $36,560. This Rural Development investment will be used to help the coastal Maine hotel to install a new solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $14,707 per year and replace 119,740 kilowatt hours (68 percent of the business energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 11 homes.
  • Keith L. Miller, dba Green Valle Farm, in Newburgh, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $45,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to help the dairy farm to install a new solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $15,931 per year and replace 111,390 kilowatt hours (72 percent of the farm energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 10 homes.

The following businesses in Maine are receiving Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan funding in partnership with lenders:

  • FSS, Inc., located in Belfast, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan in partnership with lender Androscoggin Savings Bank, in the amount of $607,396. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide permanent financing to FSS Inc. and POAFTROL, LLC to build a 452.45 kilowatt dc ground-mounted solar project located in rural Belfast. In addition to this Rural Development loan, the project will be financed by a borrower contribution of $107,859 and a non-guaranteed loan of $122,266. The project has interconnection and net energy billing agreements in place with Central Maine Power Company and is expected to produce 407,798 kilowatt hours of electricity in the first full year of operation.
  • Nextgrid Cliffrose, LLC, in Lewiston, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan in partnership with lender Crestmark, A Division of Meta Bank, in the amount of $3,150,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide permanent financing to Nextgrid Cliffrose LLC to build a 2.494 MWdc ground-mounted solar project located in rural Lewiston. The project has interconnection and net energy billing agreements in place with Central Maine Power Company, is expected to produce 3,550,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in the first full year of operation, and will create three jobs at an average of $30/hour.
  • Nextgrid Mangrove, LLC, in in Lewiston, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan in partnership with lender Crestmark, A Division of Meta Bank, in the amount of $7,000,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide permanent financing to Nextgrid Mangrove LLC to build a 5.55 MWdc ground-mounted solar project located in rural Lewiston. The project has interconnection and net energy billing agreements in place with Central Maine Power Company, is expected to produce 7,708,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in the first full year of operation, and will create three jobs at an average of $30/hour.
  • Nextgrid Mastic, LLC, in in Waterville, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan in partnership with lender Crestmark, A Division of Meta Bank, in the amount of $6,300,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide permanent financing to Nextgrid Mastic, LLC to build a 5.033 MWdc ground-mounted solar project located in rural Waterville. In addition to this loan, the project will be financed by a borrower contribution of $1,397,361 and a tax equity investment of $3,425,534. The project has interconnection and net energy billing agreements in place with Central Maine Power Company, is expected to produce 6,710,000 kWh of electricity in the first full year of operation, and will create three jobs at an average of $30/hour.
  • Nextgrid Peppertree, LLC., in Poland, has received a Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan in partnership with lender Crestmark, A Division of Meta Bank, in the amount of $6,950,000.  This Rural Development investment will be used to provide permanent financing to Nextgrid Peppertree, LLC to build a 5.56 MWdc ground-mounted solar project located in rural Poland. The project has interconnection and net energy billing agreements in place with Central Maine Power Company and is expected to produce 7,560,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in the first full year of operation.

Background:  

Vilsack highlighted 793 investments that USDA is making in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These programs include Community Facilities Disaster Grants, Electric Loan Program, Rural Energy for America Program, Rural Energy Savings Program, and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

The funding will help people in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development helps rural residents, businesses and communities address economic development, infrastructure and social service needs. 

These investments will help build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. They will also help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure.

 

Secretary Vilsack made the announcement from Saubel’s Markets in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, which will receive a $103,413 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. With this funding, the small business will install solar panels on the roof of their family-owned grocery store that has been in business since the 1960s. This project is expected to save $30,852 per year and will replace 395,539 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 36 homes annually. As part of today’s announcement, Pennsylvania will receive more than $1 million for 22 projects across the state.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate, smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.