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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="m_-3639605869890188961_link_6">Dear Producers,<o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6">If there are energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements you’d like to make on the farm, I encourage you to look into the USDA program described below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6">You can find more Ohio-based resources on the Ohio State FSA page,
</span><a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Ohio/index"><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6">https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Ohio/index</span><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:m_-3639605869890188961_link_6"><b>USDA Rural Development Agency Seeks Applicants for the Rural Energy for America Program</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The USDA Rural Development has available the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help farmers and rural, small, for-profit businesses install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provided the program with significant funding to help farmers and small, rural businesses implement these systems. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Energy Efficiency Improvement projects can include grain dryer replacements, fans and motors, HVAC upgrades, lighting replacements along with other improvements as outlined in an energy audit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Renewable energy projects can include Solar Photovoltaic, Solar Thermal, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass, and Anaerobic Digester projects.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Applications are being accepted quarterly with applications due to the Rural Development State Office
<b>by December 31, 2023; March 31, 2024; June 30, 2024; or September 30, 2024</b>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><i>Energy Efficiency Improvement projects may be eligible for up to
<b>$500,000</b> or 50% of eligible project cost, whichever is less. </i><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><i>Renewable energy projects may be eligible for up to
<b>$1,000,000</b> or 50% of eligible project costs, whichever is less.</i><o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Submission of a REAP application is strongly encouraged due to the increased availability of funds and per project funding.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please contact Ohio staff members with questions:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Danielle Frye 330-481-2230
<a href="mailto:danielle.frye@usda.gov" target="_blank">frye@usda.gov</a> <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Jennifer Brown 614-255-2391 <a href="mailto:jennifer.brown@usda.gov" target="_blank">brown@usda.gov</a>
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Marcy Lucas 740-885-3319
<a href="mailto:marcella.lucas@usda.gov" target="_blank">lucas@usda.gov</a> <o:p>
</o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Evan Kohler 614-255-2411
<a href="mailto:evan.kohler@usda.gov" target="_blank">kohler@usda.gov</a> <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Justin Dueitt 614-255-2427 <a href="mailto:justin.dueitt@usda.gov" target="_blank">dueitt@usda.gov</a>
<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal">Additional information regarding this program can be found at the following website:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnJkLnVzZGEuZ292L3Byb2dyYW1zLXNlcnZpY2VzL2VuZXJneS1wcm9ncmFtcy9ydXJhbC1lbmVyZ3ktYW1lcmljYS1wcm9ncmFtLXJlbmV3YWJsZS1lbmVyZ3ktc3lzdGVtcy1lbmVyZ3ktZWZmaWNpZW5jeS1pbXByb3ZlbWVudC1ndWFyYW50ZWVkLWxvYW5zP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEyMTguODczMDE1NjEifQ.vgH0hyfeWuFEfvsKewVJdLsXb8skGKM8wgA0xLkHoc8/s/1519444631/br/233305227254-l__;!!KGKeukY!wdkpmNJUdseTX6CNKLZaQQaRz23DcgWDScVs4aAd_fA514_1aSuiOhaIMwCeZXN4h640qeedcAYpY1G9V9WL17s$" target="_blank">Rural
Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants | Rural Development (usda.gov)</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>NOTE:</i></b> The program cannot be used for residential improvements.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="224" height="45" style="width:2.3333in;height:.4652in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DA332F.EAB76D20" alt="The Ohio State University"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#BB0000;background:white">Nicole Wright</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><br>
<span style="background:white">Aquaculture Extension Educator and LEARN Coordinator</span><br>
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#BB0000;background:white">Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white"> School of Environment and
Natural Resources<br>
Heffner Building, 352 W. Dodridge St., Columbus, OH 43202<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">Phone: 330-202-3594<br>
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#BB0000;background:white"><a href="mailto:wright.1128@osu.edu"><span style="color:blue">wright.1128@osu.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white"> / </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#BB0000;background:white"><a href="http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/"><span style="color:blue">ohioseagrant.osu.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#404040;background:white">Pronouns: she/her/hers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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