WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) celebrated the announcement of $1.3 million for nine Delaware projects that will lower energy costs for rural small businesses as part of the Rural Energy for America Program and the Inflation Reduction Act.
“The Inflation Reduction Act is making a real difference in the lives of Delawareans and I’m proud to have helped author many of the climate provisions in this historic bill,” said Senator Carper. “It is wonderful to see this funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) go toward Delaware’s clean energy future in all corners of our state. When we invest in the resiliency of our planet, we invest in our economy and our small businesses, and today’s funding announcement does just that.”
“Reducing energy costs for rural small businesses is just one way that the Inflation Reduction Act is helping our country meet our climate goals while saving money for businesses and families,” said Senator Coons. “I am thrilled to see downstate businesses receiving $1.3 million in grants as this landmark law gets to work for Delawareans.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act’s historic provisions are at work lowering health care and energy costs for individuals, families, and seniors in Delaware and across the nation,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. “Today’s funding announcement from the USDA will ensure that small businesses in the most rural parts of the First State can also reap these historic benefits to lower their energy costs, become more resilient, and help us unleash the full economic potential of our state.”
“USDA Rural Development is proud to support rural small businesses and ag producers in Delaware through our Rural Energy for America Program,” said David Baker, USDA Rural Development State Director. “Through this critical investment, nine Delaware businesses are receiving funding that will help them to operate more sustainably, lower the cost of doing business, and contribute to resilient, clean, and thriving rural communities.”
The announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture includes millions in loans and grants to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will lower costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resilience of their operations.
The nine projects to receive funding are:
For more information, please contact staff at (302) 857-3629 or visit the USDA Rural Energy for America Program webpage.
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