SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $3 MILLION IN USDA FUNDING, THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, ACROSS RURAL NEW YORK FOR FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO INVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
Schumer Says Major Fed Investment In Rural NY Producers And Small Business Owners Was Made Possible By Landmark Inflation Reduction Act That He Led To Passage As Majority Leader – Which Is Delivering Millions To Energize the Economy, Reduce Costs, Create Good-Paying Jobs, And Improve The Quality Of Life For New Yorkers In Rural Areas
Schumer, Gillibrand: Our Inflation Reduction Act Is Supercharging Investment In Rural Communities Across Upstate NY To Lower Costs And Boost Clean Energy!
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,155,504 in federal funding to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers invest in energy efficient and renewable energy systems. The senators said the major investment was administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and was made possible by the historic investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the nation’s largest-ever investment in fighting climate change and will help lower farms’ energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resilience of agriculture operations across rural New York.
“Our Inflation Reduction Act is supercharging investment in rural communities across Upstate NY, boosting clean-energy projects to help our farms and small businesses lower costs -- all while helping build a cleaner future. From the North Country to the Southern Tier, this $3 million-plus in federal funding will deliver real cost-saving measures for Main Street businesses and farms across rural New York,” said Senator Schumer. “When I passed the Inflation Reduction Act last year, economy-boosting and cost-saving investments in clean energy like this were at the forefront of my mind – protecting our environment and helping rural small businesses’ and agricultural producers’ bottom lines to lay the foundation for a brighter future for our rural communities.”
“Investing in small businesses and agricultural producers is vital to supporting our rural communities across New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will energize our rural communities and help our farms and small businesses lower costs through investments in important clean energy projects. I am proud to have worked to secure this funding through the Inflation Reduction Act and will continue to fight for New York’s rural communities.”
Rural Development funds from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance 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. Since December 2022, USDA has made up to $1.3 billion available in REAP funding through the Inflation Reduction Act. Eligible applicants include rural small business owners and agricultural producers. The program is part of the Justice40 Initiative, which is working to ensure that 40 percent of the benefits of certain federal investments reach communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
A full list of award recipients across New York State can be found below:
|
Recipient |
Funding Amount |
Project Description |
|
North Country |
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|
Bilow Farms LLC |
$500,000 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a sand separation facility. Bilow Farms is a family-owned dairy farm in Franklin County, Malone, New York. This project will realize $157,697 per year in savings and will replace 1,546,715 kilowatt hours (kWh) (33 percent) per year. |
|
Airscape Inc |
$112,906 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 119.3 kW solar photovoltaic system. Airscape Inc. in Argyle, New York is a business that produces heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and has been in existence since 2008. This project will realize $11,694 per year in savings and will replace 146,936 kWh (100 percent) per year. Funding includes a $169,358 Applicant Contribution. |
|
JL Widrick Trucking LLC |
$259,836 |
This rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an 18-vertical-wells geothermal system at JL Widrick Trucking LLC. The business is a family-owned heavy-duty, diesel-engine, European, and hybrid-vehicle automotive-repair specialty shop in Carthage, Lewis County, New York. The project annually will save the business $24,339 and replace 8,400 gallons of propane (100 percent). Funding includes a $344,754 applicant contribution and a $45,000 New York state clean rebate. |
|
Monnat Brothers Inc |
$26,242 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 23.43 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. Monnat Brothers Inc. is a family-owned automotive repair and service center in Lewis County, Lowville, New York. This project will realize $2,855 per year in savings and will replace 22,210 kilowatt hours (kWh) (101 percent) per year. |
|
Adon Farms Operations LLC |
$90,585 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an energy-efficient grain dryer at Adon Farms, a dairy farm in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York. The project annually will save the farm $7,585 and replace 98,599 kWh (41 percent). Funding includes a $135,879 applicant contribution. |
|
Maple Lane Farms |
$42,000 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 38.88 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Maple Lane Farms is a crop farm that has been in operation since 2012 and is in Jefferson County, Philadelphia, New York. This project will realize $5,676 per year in savings and will replace 38,901 kilowatt hours (kWh) (116 percent) per year. |
|
Southern Tier |
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|
Steven Anderson |
$29,012 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a grain dryer. Steven L. Anderson is a sole proprietor operating a grain farm in the rural hamlet of West Edmeston, Chenango County, New York. This project annually will save $11,144 and replace 181,939 kWh (62.4 percent). The applicant will contribute $43,519 to the project |
|
Voberden LLC |
$42,920 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 33.6 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Finger Lakes Campground operated by Voberden LLC in Prattsburgh, Steuben County, New York. The project annually will save the business $5,703 and replace 33.959 kWh (95 percent). Funding includes a $52,615 applicant contribution and $11,765 from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). |
|
Capital Region |
||
|
Columbia Falls Inc |
$96,012 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 113 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. Columbia Falls Inc is a real estate holding company for Kling Magnetics, producer of custom educational magnet products at its facility in Columbia County, Chatham, New York. This project will realize $14,175 per year in savings and will replace 129,462 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent) per year. |
|
Columbia Falls Inc |
$48,253 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install energy efficient air sourced heat pumps. Columbia Falls Inc. is a real estate holding company for Kling Magnetics, producer of custom educational magnet products at its facility in Columbia County, Chatham, New York. This project will realize $23,996 per year in savings and will replace 104,794 kilowatt hours (kWh) (54 percent) per year. |
|
JD Voght LLC |
$39,600 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 31 kilowatt (kW) solar array. JD Voght LLC is a bowling alley that has been in operation since 2006 in Montgomery County, Canajoharie, New York. This project will realize $2,765 per year in savings and will replace 34,566 kilowatt hours (kWh) (72 percent) per year. |
|
Wagner Farms LLC |
$422,806 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 335 kW combined heat and power (CHP) biogas generator at Wagner Farms, a family-owned dairy farm in Poestenskill, Rensselaer County, New York. The project annually will save the farm $242,103 and generate 2,787,870 kWh of energy per year. Funding includes a $634,208 applicant contribution. |
|
High Meadows of Hoosick LLC |
$109,704 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 92.4 kW solar array at High Meadows of Hoosick LLC, a certified organic dairy operation located in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York. The project annually will save the dairy $11,525 and replace 106,052 kWh (110 percent). Funding includes a $164,556 applicant contribution. |
|
Osborne Family Farm LLC |
$39,640 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 31.04 kW solar array at Osborne Family Farm LLC, a dairy farm in Sharon Springs, Schoharie County, New York. The project annually will save the farm $4,810 and replace 36,999 kWh (21 percent). Funding includes a $60,460 applicant contribution. |
|
Thermo-Control Heating System LTD |
$35,516 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 33-kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Thermo-Control Heating Systems Ltd., a second-generation, family-owned, heating-systems manufacturer in Howes Caves, Schoharie County, New York. In operation since 1976, the business produces wood boilers and furnaces. The project annually will save the business $5,073 and replace 34,753 kWh. Funding includes a $46,161 applicant contribution and $11,624 from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) NY-Sun Nonresidential Incentive Program. |
|
Central New York |
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|
Critz Farms Inc. |
$20,000 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to make improvements to Critz Farms Inc., a family-owned business that was established in 1985 in Cazenovia, New York, in Madison County. They grow a wide variety of crops, including apples, pumpkins, gourds, hops, barley, blueberries, and conifer trees. Their farm products include farm fresh sweet apple cider, award winning hand-crafted hard cider, farm brewed craft beer, New York cheddar cheese, pure maple syrup and other maple products, and balsam fir wreaths. Project funds will be used to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of a Leader Evaporator Co. Vortex arch, two CDL rotary vane vacuum pumps, and Rinnai EX17CT direct vent furnace. This project will realize $3,720 per year in savings and will replace 80,970 kilowatt hours (kWh) (8 percent) per year, which is enough electricity to power eight homes |
|
Brabant Farm LLC |
$55,559 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a grain dryer in Durhamville, New York. Brabant Farms is a family-owned dairy farm in Oneida County, Verona, New York. This project will realize $32,383 per year in savings and will replace 530,778 kilowatt hours (kWh) (55 percent) per year. Funding includes a $83,341 applicant contribution |
|
Hudson Valley |
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|
Albros New York Holdings LLC |
$79,897 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 64.68 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Albros New York Holdings LLC doing business as Sheely's Walden Car Wash and Laundromat is a car wash and laundromat business operating since 2006 in Walden, New York which is in Orange County. This project will realize $8,952 per year in savings and will replace 79,617 kilowatt hours (kWh) (72 percent) per year. |
|
Pleasant View Farm LLC |
$33,130 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 27 kW solar array at Pleasant View Farm LLC, an equestrian facility in Brewster, New York. The project annually will save the farm $5,542 and replace 34,637 kWh (70 percent). Funding includes a $40,245 applicant contribution and $9,450 from the NYSERDA NY-Sun Nonresidential Incentive Program. |
|
Migliorelli Farm LLC |
$19,714 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase a grain dryer. Migliorelli Farm LLC is a family-run fruit and vegetable farm in Red Hook, New York, in Dutchess County. This project will realize $2,103 per year in savings and will replace 20,375 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power two homes. |
|
Western New York |
||
|
Mico Welding and Fabricating Inc |
$66,176 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 30.2 kW solar array at Mico Welding and Fabricating Inc., a welding and fabrication shop operating since 1985 in Sardinia, Erie County, New York. The project annually will save the business $12,232 and replace 73,825 kWh (132 percent). Funding includes a $99,264 applicant contribution |
|
Zoar Valley Enterprises Inc |
$63,120 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 66.42 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Zoar Valley Enterprises Inc. is a Harley Davidson dealership that has been in operation since 1947 and is in Erie County, Gowanda, New York. This project will realize $11,683 per year in savings and will replace 77,169 kilowatt hours (kWh) (80 percent) per year |
|
County Line Stone Co Inc |
$134,640 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 166 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at County Line Stone Company, a third-generation family-owned and -operated limestone quarry in Akron, Erie County, New York. The project annually will save the business $16,387 and replace 179,884 kWh (3 percent). Funding includes a $143,720 applicant contribution and $58,240 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). |
|
Forestville Animal Hospital P.C. |
$32,400 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 30.2 kW solar array at Forestville Animal Hospital PC, a veterinary hospital operating since 2011 in Forestville, Chautauqua County, New York. The project annually will save the business $4,469 and generate 34,991 kWh (112 percent). Funding includes a $48,600 applicant contribution |
|
Rochester - Finger Lakes |
||
|
Humbert Farms LLC |
$500,000 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer for their harvested corn. Humbert Farms is a family owned and operated crop farm in Wayne County, Rose, New York. This project will realize $71,144 per year in savings and will save 956,009 kilowatt hours (kWh) (63.57 percent) per year. |
|
Long Island |
||
|
Over in 2050 LLC |
$245,836 |
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 256.08 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. Over in 2050, LLC is a real estate holding company for Riverhead Toyota, a new and used vehicle dealership and service center located in Suffolk County, Riverhead, New York. This project will realize $56,698 per year in savings and replace 314,991 kilowatt hours (kWh) (95 percent) in electricity annually. |
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