Clean energy projects in the region are among nearly 130 recipients across rural Minnesota recently awarded funding through the federal Rural Energy for America Program.
The $15.6 million investment will save farms and rural small businesses nearly $18.4 million on their energy bills per year, while simultaneously reducing harmful carbon emissions, according to a press release from U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar.
The Inflation Reduction Act strengthened the REAP program, which was supported by both senators and championed by Smith, the release says.
The projects are estimated to produce and conserve enough energy to power the equivalent of 15,727 homes.
This year under the program, Minnesota has seen more than 380 clean energy projects on farms and in rural communities. The funding is set aside for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable, clean energy systems, or to make their operations more energy efficient.
Projects receiving funding in the area are in or near the cities of Blue Earth, Frost, Good Thunder, Madelia, Mapleton, Minnesota Lake and Wells.
The funding of $1.452 million for those areas is expected to generate a savings of $117,740 annually.
