WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total of $20,634,955 has been secured for 156 rural energy projects in 62 Iowa counties. The funds will be used to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses in developing renewable energy systems and in making energy-efficiency improvements to their operations.
"This funding is great news for family farms and small town businesses all across Iowa. These projects will improve energy efficiency and lower energy costs, while at the same time aiding our state's economy," said Harkin. "Rural communities are so important to the fabric of Iowa and projects such these will help them continue to prosper."
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). As former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Harkin worked to include a version of this program in the 2002 farm bill and expanded it to the current program in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the 2008 farm bill.
A list of all of the projects is attached.
###
