Plainfield, NH – On October 16, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Ted Brady, New Hampshire Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD), to announce 31 USDA Rural Development grants awarded to small farms and business across New Hampshire. These grants will support utilization of renewable energy generation and energy conservation at the farms and businesses around the state.

The announcement took place in Plainfield at Edgewater Farm, which received a grant of $14,035 to help install a solar array on site. In total, 31 farms and small businesses in New Hampshire were awarded $1,163,000 from USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America  Program (REAP).

“As our farms and small businesses look to succeed in today’s economy and business market, it is important that they are adequately supported by rural development to embrace clean, renewable, self-sufficient forms of energy,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I am thrilled to congratulate Edgewater Farm and the 30 other grant recipients across New Hampshire as they move forward in an incredible variety of renewable energy projects to support their work. The dedication of this year’s grant recipients to reduce their energy footprint and utilize renewables is just one more example of how New Hampshire’s farmers and small business leaders are so innovative, creative, and successful.”

Kuster and other members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation fought to include REAP’s reauthorization in the 2014 Farm Bill. The program allows farmers and small businesses across the country to apply for grants to help offset up to 25 percent of costs related to renewable energy or energy efficient projects.

USDA Rural Development runs programs related to housing, business, and community infrastructure to support farmers and small businesses in rural communities across the country. During today’s event, USDA Rural Development also announced that it is currently accepting applications for the next round of REAP funding. Farms and small businesses can apply for funding for projects under $80,000 until November 2.

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