Kentucky’s branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending $3.3 million dollars to rural communities for clean energy projects. The money comes from the Rural Energy for America Program, also known as REAP. Tom Carew is the USDA’s Rural Development Director for Kentucky. He says the program gives grants to businesses that help them install energy improvements. “When I say business, it could be a farm operation, it could be a grocery store or a public utility. and the REAP program will pay 50% of the cost of the energy improvements,” Carew said. It’ll mostly go to installing 17 small-scale solar systems across Kentucky. Carew says he’s most excited about a million-dollar grant going toward Frankfort’s Electric and Water Plant Board. “This is essentially a public utility accessing these grant funds to lower their operating costs, which should mean better efficiency, better pricing for their customers. I think it’s a really interesting use,” Carew said. Other projects being funded include more grain dryers in Logan, Daviess and Simpson County, more HVAC units installed in Madison County and heat pumps in Pike and Hopkins County. Carew says he expects more money to be awarded to rural communities in the future through the Inflation Reduction Act. The full list of projects being supported is available here. Carew says anyone interested in future REAP grants can contact the USDA Rural Development state office at 859-224-7300. ** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation. The post USDA awards more than $3 million to rural Kentucky communities in new round of energy efficiency grants appeared first on The Lexington Times.