Dec. 16—WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, both D-Minn., announced nearly 130 new clean energy projects in rural Minnesota, including one for Bemidji.
The $15,629,305 investment is intended to save farms and small rural businesses $18,414,061 on their energy bills per year while reducing carbon emissions with a savings of 170,433,830 kilowatt hours per year – enough to power 15,727 homes , according to a press release.
“The transition to clean energy is happening; the question is whether we lead or follow. I want us to lead,” Smith said in the press release. ‘But as we make the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, we must ensure that everyone benefits, including small towns and rural communities. That’s one reason why projects funded by the Rural Energy for America Program are so important.
“These investments will help farmers and entrepreneurs save money and improve their bottom lines, while reducing harmful carbon emissions.”
The project includes Beltrami County, awarding Bemidji $94,850 to purchase and install a 48-kilowatt solar panel for a commercial and residential cabinet factory with annual savings of $21,226 and 60,466 kilowatt hours per year.
“Investing in energy for the long term is a win-win for rural customers and businesses,” Klobuchar said in the statement. “With this federal funding, we are taking a major step toward deploying new energy technologies to power rural Minnesota communities for decades to come.”
This year, Minnesota has seen more than 380 clean energy projects on farms and in rural communities through the Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP).
REAP financing is specifically reserved for agricultural producers and small rural businesses to install renewable, clean energy systems or make their operations more energy efficient.
Examples of projects include the installation of energy-efficient grain dryers, LED lighting and heating mats for livestock, solar panels or energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.
The full list of projects can be found
here.
