11 P.R. rural small businesses to split $245K from USDA
From 2009 to date, REAP has helped finance more than 11,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduce energy costs for roughly 15,000 rural businesses.. (Credit: www.solaruniverse.com)
Eleven rural small businesses in Puerto Rico will split $245,000 in loans and grants approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to further renewable energy use, agency Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday.
In total, the agency is providing $43.2 million in loan guarantees and $11.6 million in grants to 821 projects across the nation that will help rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations, he said.
The funding is available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and will be used to make energy efficiency improvements and install renewable energy systems.
“Since 2009, the Rural Energy for America Program has helped roughly 15,000 small businesses and farm save enough energy to power about 730,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than five million metric tons annually,” Vilsack said.
“These investments in clean energy are good for the environment, are good for each business’s bottom line and they support the broader rural economy by encouraging the production of renewable energy sources,” he said.
The list of local grantees includes: Adler Group Inc., which will receive $19,993 to make energy efficiency improvements to its lighting system; Alfredo José Toledo, who will receive $16,320 to purchase and install a solar renewable energy system; Computer Integration of Quality Assurance, which will receive $17,150 to make energy efficiency improvements to its lighting system; Giovanni Ferrante, who will receive 16,250 to purchase and install a solar renewable energy system; Hidropónicos del País Inc., which will receive $20,000 to make energy efficiency improvements to its lighting system; Imprenta Quality Offset, which received $10,850 to make energy efficiency improvements to its lighting system; Laboratorio Clínico Delgado Amador PSC, which will receive $16,997 to purchase and install a solar renewable energy system; Laboratorio Clínico Ling Inc, which will receive $26,476 to make energy efficiency improvements to its lighting system; Laboratorio Clínico Sangermeño Principal, which will receive $11,175 to make energy efficiency improvements to its lighting system; and Alex Cruz-Vélez, who will receive $3,789 to purchase and install a solar renewable energy system.
Only one recipient, Iván E. Martínez-Cordero, will receive a loan for $87,500 to make energy efficiency improvements to the lighting system, the agency’s breakdown shows.
