Stoughton's Green Road Pottery will receive a $25,105 grant to install a roof-mounted solar power system. The project is expected to save $2,350 per year and replace 20,255 kilowatt-hours (96 percent of the company's energy use) per year, enough to power two homes.
It is part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural development program announced by Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa in a news release Monday, Jan. 13. In total, USDA is investing an additional $14,000,418 in grants in Wisconsin to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels.
The announced investments are in 42 projects in 27 Wisconsin counties through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) ($9,583,750 for three projects) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) ($4,416,668 for 39 projects) .
“The dozens of awards I am announcing today will help reduce energy costs and provide a historic opportunity for farmers and rural businesses to invest in clean energy systems and improve energy efficiency,” Lassa said. “Many of these investments, made possible with the help of President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act, will create greater energy independence, save companies money on their bottom lines, and strengthen economic development in rural communities.”