The U.S.D.A. has forwarded thousands of dollars worth of grants and loans to 44 different renewable energy projects in Iowa. The grants come from the "Rural Energy for America Program" and many of the smaller grants — in the range of $10,000 to $20,000 — will help farmers erect wind turbines.
"Those grants are designed to encourage farmers to take a look at their operations to determine how they might be able to use renewable energy more effectively in their operations and then be able to give them the resources to be able to implement those plans," U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says. "It’s a very successful program."
Milford Wind Energy in Story City is getting a $1.8 million guaranteed loan and $500,000 grant. the company will build a wind turbine that will generate excess electricity that can be sold to the local utility. When it’s up and operating in 2010, experts estimate the turbine should earn the company $200,000 annually.
The program was established by the 2008 Farm Bill.
"I will tell you the folks in Iowa have probably been the most aggressive in terms of the utilitization and application process as reflected by the fact that the majority of the awards went to Iowa farmers," Vilsack says. "Our hope is that farmers around the country will begin to understand this program and begin to utilize it."
Late last week the U.S.D.A. announced more than $13 million was being released in the form of both grants and low-interest loans. The money went to 232 projects in 38 states, including the 44 projects in Iowa.
You can read the U.S.D.A.’s list of the Iowa projects below.
Christopher J. Schwarck, $19,902 grant
Jason Meester, $18,450 grant
Joe Duwe, $10,533 grant
Ted Becker, $12,280 grant
Kevin L. Pietig, $12,252 grant
Kurt Steinbronn, $20,000 grant
Keith Franck, $20,000 grant
Milford Helgeson Farms, Inc.,$20,000 grant
Deutmeyer Farms, Inc., $6,750 grant
Roger Schmitt $20,000 grant
Neumayer Farm Partnership, $20,000 grant
Michael L. Haubrich, $20,000 grant
Bruce Schultz, $20,000 grant
Boshart & Sons, $20,000 grant
Jason Wiebers $15,995 grant
Oldham Farms, Inc., $19,784 grant
Neil Kruger, $19,874 grant
Daniel Bockenstedt, $20,000 grant
Leslie Clampitt, $20,000 grant
Bates Family Farms Corporation, $19,992 grant
Buskohl, Mark, $19,836 grant
3Fueled, LLC, $50,000 grant
LincolnWay Energy, LLC, $10,000 grant
Market Management Services, LLC, $18,000 grant
Consumers Energy Cooperative, $100,000 grant
Hawkeye Tri-County Electric, $100,000 grant
Alan Laubenthal, $38,722 grant; $77,444 loan
Ronald Bowman $23,681 grant; $47,363 loan
Klover Pork, LLC, $34,302 grant; $68,604 loan
Garry Anstoetter, $24,320 grant; $24,320 loan
Dale Zhorne $38,349 grant; $38,349 loan
McCool Bros., LLC, $30,971 grant; $31,141 loan
Steven Mummelthei, $39,313 grant; $78,625 loan
Jack D. Moulds, $49,982 grant; $99,964 loan
Dean & Sandra, Inc., $27,388 grant; $27,388 loan
Michael Blake $49,121 grant; $49,121 loan
Danny Newell $41,559 grant $41,559 loan
Jay R. Clasing $155,794 grant; $311,588 loan
Steve Robinson, $27,500 grant; $27,500 loan
Milford Wind Energy, LLC, $500,000 grant; $1,831,820 loan
Seuntjens Farm, Partnership, $37,240 grant; $37,240 loan
Daniel Lonnevik, $31,912 grant, $63,824 loan
D J Keehner Farms, Inc., $25,678 grant; $25,678 loan
Franzen Brothers, $50,000 grant; $66,750 loan
