Webinar to help farms, small businesses access funding for solar from the USDA Rural Energy for America Program

Leading renewable energy experts will host a webinar to discuss the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Monday, August 27, at 2 p.m. Attendees will learn how to take part in the program ahead of the October 31 deadline for consideration in its fall 2018 funding round.

RSVP here to attend the webinar.

Webinar presenters include Autumn Long of Solar United Neighbors, Jesse Gandee of USDA REAP, and Hannah Vargason of the Natural Capital Investment Fund. Topics will include solar technology, energy savings, financing options, and grant opportunities. Attendees will learn how solar can lower energy bills and stabilize monthly budget expenditures while creating local wealth and investment.

REAP provides competitive grant funding and guaranteed loan financing to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for a broad range of renewable energy installations and energy efficiency improvements. Over the past decade, REAP has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and loan guarantees to fund more than twelve thousand renewable energy projects across the country. Here in West Virginia, REAP has invested more than $4 million to provide support to renewable energy projects on more than 100 West Virginia farms and small businesses.

The 2014 Farm Bill established a permanent funding baseline of $50 million per year for the REAP program as part of the Farm Bill’s Energy Title programs. The current Farm Bill will expire at the end of 2018 and must be reauthorized this year by the U.S. Congress. Take a moment to encourage your Congressional leaders to continue guaranteed mandatory funding for Farm Bill Energy Title programs like REAP by signing this letter of support.

To learn how REAP funding can benefit your farm or small business, attend the webinar on Monday, August 27, at 2 p.m. Click here to RSVP.