Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed nearly $3.25 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for agriculture producers and rural small businesses across Colorado to lower energy costs, expand access to clean energy, and fight climate change. This was funded in part by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which Bennet and Hickenlooper helped pass. REAP helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.
“As our state continues to lead the nation’s clean energy transition, Colorado’s rural communities play a central role,” said Bennet. “Thanks to these investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, we will take an important step toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions, driving rural economic growth, and lowering energy costs for Coloradans.”
“Colorado farmers and ranchers aren’t just accepting climate change’s negative effects on their lives, they’re leading the fight against it,” said Hickenlooper. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re helping expand clean energy and improve energy efficiency for our agriculture economy.”
The REAP grants will help make the following clean energy investments across Colorado:
- $1,000,000 to Bella Holsteins in Platteville for a solar electric system;
- $520,000 to Estes Industries in Penrose for a solar electric system;
- $300,000 to the State of Colorado to provide 28 technical reports and assist 35 applicants applying for Rural Energy for America Program funding;
- $248,000 to Grand Valley Hydropower in Palisade to improve an existing solar electric system;
- $240,746 to McDonald NOCO in Fort Morgan for a solar electric system;
- $216,737 to Niwot Corporation DBA Specialty Products in Longmont for a solar roof system;
- $200,000 to Tri-State G&T Association to provide technical support to up to 80 applicants on renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement opportunities for rural small businesses and agricultural producers throughout Colorado;
- $187,221 to Sun Powered in Durango for a solar electric system;
- $79,070 to Peak Brewing Co. in Durango for a solar electric system;
- $72,104 to Honey Rock in Delta to upgrade a cold storage facility;
- $66,251 to Metal Roof Innovations in Colorado Springs for a solar roof system;
- $51,800 to Hoogland Farm in Fort Morgan for a solar electric system;
- $31,993 to Greyrock Properties in Durango for a solar roof system; and
- $31,492 to Coons RE 4C in Bayfield for a solar roof system.
Bennet has consistently fought for robust funding for USDA’s rural clean energy programs and helped secure the nearly $14 billion that passed in the IRA for those programs, including an additional $2 billion for REAP. Last year, Bennet and Hickenlooper welcomed $18.83 million in REAP funding for rural small businesses across the state.