USDA investment in Rural Communities to lower energy costs and create jobs in South Carolina

Projects Funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act Strengthen American Farms and Rural Small Businesses

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is partnering with farmers and small businesses to expand access to clean energy and lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program.

“South Carolina is receiving over $5.5 million in this round of REAP funding,” said USDA Rural Development South Carolina Acting State Director George W. Hicks, Jr. “This funding will lower energy costs over time for our small businesses and agriculture producers while also benefiting the environment.”

REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs for American families.

In South Carolina:

• Ashley Solar, LLC is receiving over nearly $2.8 million in combined loan and grant funding for the purchase and installation of a 3.564 MWdc commercial utility scale solar array. Ashley Solar LLC is a newly created entity for the purpose of generating electricity in Darlington County. The system is estimated to produce 4,538,200 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 419 homes.
• Walter P Rawl & Sons, Inc. located in Lexington County, will be using a $944,212 grant to assist with the purchase and installation of an 899.3-kilowatt (kW) direct current (DC) ground-mount photovoltaic (PV) solar array. This is a farming operation that grows leafy greens for retail and the food service industry. This project will realize $84,523 per year in savings and will replace 1,418,867 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 131 homes.
• Luz Solar, LLC, a newly created entity for the purpose of generating electricity in Darlington County, is receiving $1.7 million in combined loan and grant funding which will enable them to purchase and install a 1.782 Megawatts defined conditions (MWDC)commercial utility scale solar array. The system is estimated to produce 2,282,300 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 211 homes.
• C&M Hog Farms, LLC, located in Dillon County, received a $94,846 grant to purchase and install a new GSI 1226 grain dryer. This project will realize $9,666 per year in savings and will save 81,178 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power eight homes.

Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $2.2 billion through REAP in 7,566 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. These projects will help rural small businesses and farmers lower energy bills by an average of $25,000 a year, generate new renewable energy income, and strengthen their resiliency of operations. The energy generated and saved from these projects would provide enough electricity to power more than 630,000 homes over the course of a year.

USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of the program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, like wind and geothermal power. For additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.

A complete list of all REAP projects nationwide can be found online.

USDA Rural Development

USDA 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. REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 initiative which sets a goal that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities. The program 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. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.

About USDA

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, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, 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.