USDA funds to help agriculture, rural small businesses cut energy costs

Des Moines Register: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday the department will offer more than $70 million to small businesses and agricultural producers in rural areas to make energy efficiency improvements or install renewable energy systems.

The funds, up to $12.3 million in grants and $57.8 million in loans, would be used to help farmers, ranchers and small business owners add renewable energy and efficiency technologies. Projects could include installing solar panels, wind mills or irrigation pumps. Grants would only cover 25 percent of the project's cost, with the recipient responsible for the rest.

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