USDA Funds to Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced 17 U.S. Department of Agriculture awards totaling more than $7.4 million for Oregon agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in renewable energy infrastructure that will help lower energy costs.

A release from the senators, said the awards are allocated through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program and will provide 15 grants to install solar array systems, along with one grant to upgrade greenhouse vents and siding, and a loan to install a biomass boiler. Four of the grants are going for solar projects at businesses in Douglas County:

*Timber Country Umpqua LLC in Roseburg – a grant of nearly $79,000

*NW Bend Boats LLC in Roseburg – a grant of nearly $38,000

*Umpqua Valley Millworks in Roseburg – a $20,000 grant

*J&S Speedy Mart in Elkton – a grant of over $15,000

Merkley said that businesses across Oregon know that leaning into renewable energy sources can help them lower their energy costs and make businesses more sustainable over the long run.

Wyden said the 17 rural Oregon companies “are making green energy investments that will help them continue to create jobs and long-term savings for Oregonians, benefiting communities throughout the state”.

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