WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced that fourteen Maine businesses will receive federal grants totaling more than $1.6 million to support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the state. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program.
 
“More and more Maine businesses are turning to renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures in order to save money and better protect the environment,” said Senators King and Collins in a joint statement. “Federal investment can often be a catalyst in spurring these important changes, which is why we welcome this USDA funding to support clean energy development and energy efficiency in Maine’s rural communities. This is a win-win for our small businesses and for our environment.”
 
The list of newly-announced Maine award recipients is below:

• Athens Energy, LLC, Somerset County, $56,520 grant for energy efficiency
• Athens Energy, LLC, Somerset County, $500,000 grant for thermal conversion
• Janel Inc. DBA Camp Tapawingo, Somerset County, $29,900 grant for solar
• Justice Farm, Inc., Cumberland County, $8,565 grant for solar
• Labrie Farms, LLC, Aroostook County, $49,500 grant for solar
• Maine Beer Company LLC, Cumberland County $49,273 grant for solar
• Michaud, Gilles, Aroostook County, $106,862 grant for solar
• North Branch, LLC, Waldo County, $5,048 grant for solar
• Planson International Corporation, Cumberland County, $27,222 grant for solar
• Ricker Hill Orchards, Androscoggin County, $22,261 grant for energy efficiency
• Smith's Farm, Inc., Aroostook County, $227,681 grant for solar
• Sparky's Apiaries, Inc., Knox County, $1,867 grant for energy efficiency
• The Wildwood Corporation, Cumberland County, $59,301 grant for solar
• Vgblads, LLC, Cumberland County – Brunswick Landing, $500,000 grant for anaerobic digester
• William M Lowe, Inc., Knox County, $19,950 grant for solar

The grant funding is part of a larger $70 million investment from the USDA that will support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide. Congress created the REAP program in 2002 in order to provide guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses so that they can purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. According to the USDA, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects since 2009 that have helped reduce energy costs for rural businesses across the country.
 

###