USDA grants totaling $6.7M encourage efficiency, renewables

Source: AP

By MEAD GRUVER

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A solar panel to be installed at one of Wyoming's bigger microbreweries helped Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday promote a nationwide program to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Vilsack planned to visit Jackson's Snake River Brewing Company later in the day to announce 544 grants totaling $6.7 million nationwide through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program. Three grants in this round of funding went to Wyoming, including one for $13,810 to help the brewery offset the cost of installing the solar panel.

"These grants will help farmers, ranchers and small business owners use more renewable energy, which cuts carbon pollution, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, saves businesses money on their energy bills and creates American jobs," Vilsack said in a release.

The other two grants awarded in Wyoming went to Campbell County rancher Byron Oedekoven. A $5,825 grant will defray the cost of replacing fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs inside and outdoors at Oedekoven's ranch with more efficient LED light bulbs.

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