Support comes from USDA’s rural energy program to help farmers and rural business owners reduce their costs by providing grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects

Klobuchar successfully fought for a robust energy title and an additional $100 million for REAP in the 2014 Farm Bill; Franken helped write the energy section of the 2014 Farm Bill, including reauthorization of REAP

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken announced $1,613,774 to help Minnesota farmers lower energy costs and boost renewable energy. The support comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP helps farmers and rural business owners reduce their costs by providing grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Klobuchar successfully fought to provide an additional $100 million for REAP in the 2014 Farm Bill.

“Minnesota’s farmers and rural communities are the backbone of our state’s economy,” Klobuchar said. “I fought to expand the REAP program in the 2014 Farm Bill, and I am glad to see this support helping Minnesota farmers and small business owners cut their energy costs while boosting renewable energy.”

“When Minnesota farmers and rural communities deploy renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects, it lowers their overall energy costs and makes our country more energy secure,” Franken said. “As co-author of the Farm Bill’s energy section, I was proud to include strong support for the Rural Energy for America Program. These REAP grants will assist in the installation of energy‎ projects, and help Minnesota’s farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses continue to thrive.”

Klobuchar, who is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, helped craft the 2014 Farm Bill and served on the conference committee responsible for negotiating the final version of the legislation. The 5-year bill passed last year with strong bipartisan support. It reduces the deficit by $23 billion, strengthens the safety net for Minnesota farmers and ranchers, streamlines conservation programs, and supports homegrown energy.

Franken championed several key provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill to help Minnesota’s ag communities. He helped author the energy section of the bill—including a reauthorization of REAP—to give Minnesota farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses the support they need to deploy renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.

For more information about the grant program and this year’s Minnesota recipients, click here.

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