Wedoany.com Report-Jan 22, USDA Rural Development on Jan. 21 announced the launch of a new Clean Energy website that aims to support the expanded use of biomass, wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal energy in rural power production.

According to the agency, the new website will serve as a platform for identifying federal funding opportunities and transforming, developing or procuring clean energy production. The website contains information on funding an incentives necessary to bring clean energy projects to life, training resources for community benefit plans, resources for farmers to implement projects as a source of income, information on current clean energy projects by state, and more.

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), the Power Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program, and Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program, and Rural Energy Savings Program are among those addressed by the new website. The website includes program links that aim to help stakeholders access details related to the application process for each program.

The REAP program, first established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Renewable biomass, including anaerobic digesters and biogas, wind, solar, small hydro-electric, ocean, geothermal, or hydrogen derived from any of those sources are among the renewable energy sources eligible for the program. Since its inception, REAP has provided funding to support numerous bioenergy and biofuel projects, including those focused the production of biogas, renewable natural gas (RNG), biomass power and biomass thermal. During its history, the program has also supported projects at ethanol plants, biodiesel plants, and wood pellet facilities.