Rural Oregon gets funds for solar, energy efficiency

The U.S. Department of Agriculture just announced more money coming to Oregon from the Rural Energy for America Program, a 2008 Farm Bill creation. This round of grants totals $11.6 million for renewable energy (a cursory glance shows mostly solar) and energy efficiency projects in rural areas. Reminds me of Amelia Templeton's story about the solar-powered Frito Lay potato farm in Klamath Basin.

The idea behind these grants is to hit a triple score: reduce dependence on foreign oil, make rural economies more competitive and boost job creation. They're not huge heaps of money, but they're designed to leverage other funding sources, according to the Department of Ag.

I wonder how many jobs my former employer, East Oregonian Publishing Co., will create with its $4,750 award for energy efficiency...

Oregon companies received a total of $206,606 in grants; Washington $188,203, Idaho $143,901; California $436,293. Here are the (not the easiest to read) lists of recipients in the Northwest:

OR EAST OREGONIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. ASTORIA 4,750ENERGY EFFICIENCY

OR RIVER'S BLESSINGS LLC COQUILLE 20,000SOLAR

OR ECO SOLAR, INC. KLAMATH FALLS 14,850SOLAR

OR YETTER, JOE AZALEA 11,392SOLAR

OR STEPPING STONE CHILDREN'S CENTER LLC KLAMATH FALLS 20,000SOLAR

OR ANDREWS SEED, INC. ONTARIO 8,908ENERGY EFFICIENCY

OR KENNINGTON FARMS LLC ONTARIO 17,506SOLAR

OR BARBARA BUCHHOLZ WOODBURN 20,000WIND

OR K-CUBED, LLC KLAMATH FALLS 7,875SOLAR

OR MBK 35803, LLC MOLALLA 13,989SOLAR

OR PLUMPER PUMPKIN PATCH & TREE FARM, L.L.C PORTLAND 13,812SOLAR

OR RAMOS, JUVENCIO HILLSBORO 15,363SOLAR

OR VENELL FARMS, INC. CORVALLIS 15,218ENERGY EFFICIENCY

OR COMPLETE CARE CHIROPRACTIC AND MASSGAE EAGLE POINT 20,000SOLAR

OR BOGDAN CACEU DALLAS 2,943SOLAR

Total OR   206,606

WA TECHENERGY, LLC SPRAGUE 20,000SOLAR

WA HEIGHTS FOODS LLC CLARKSTON 15,639ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA UDDER VIEW FARMS LP GRANDVIEW 5,000SOLAR

WA ROYAL RIDGE FRUIT & COLD STORAGE, LLC ROYAL CITY 20,000SOLAR

WA THE FARMERS MARKET COMMUN SOLAR PROJECTOLYMPIA 20,000SOLAR

WA PICK-RITE, INC. MONTESANO 9,214ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA MONTESANO FARM AND HOME MONTESANO 2,831ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA P&K LACEY BLVD 1 LLC SOLAR LACEY 19,891SOLAR

WA BS QUALITY MACHINE & FAB, INC. MCCLEARY 4,123ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA MELLEMA, DEAN A SUMAS 15,000SOLAR

WA DANIELS INDUSTRIAL GROUP, LLC COSMOPOLIS 5,384ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA NORTH STAR COLD STORAGE STANWOOD 18,274ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA MJD FARMS 1, LLC CUSTER 18,287SOLAR

WA ABERDEEN GROCERY OUTLET, LLC ABERDEEN 6,338ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WA PERRY, RODERIC LYNDEN 8,222SOLAR

Total WA   188,203

ID HAWLEY'S AUTOMOTIVE, INC. MOUNTAIN HOME 3,609ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID DEPOT COMPANY MCCALL 8,758SOLAR

ID CENTRAL IDAHO PUBLISHING MCCALL 3,470SOLAR

ID CASCADE AUTO, INC. CASCADE 2,236ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID ARNOLD AVIATION & THUNDER MTN. EXPRESS, CASCADE 1,969ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID MOSCOW FOOD CO-OP MOSCOW 4,197ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID ROSE, LARRY E GLENNS FERRY 2,261ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID MAROSE, DONNA HOMEDALE 4,076ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID BINNINGER, STEVE MCCALL 3,158SOLAR

ID SIMPER, HAROLD A GRANDVIEW 4,091ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID SI BUENO, INC. MCCALL 8,984SOLAR

ID KBOYS, INC. ABERDEEN 8,223ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID LARSEN, MICHAEL G BLACKFOOT 9,173ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID SYMMS FRUIT RANCH, INC. CALDWELL 12,464BIOMASS

ID WHEELER, TED MERIDIAN 19,750WIND

ID FISH BREEDERS OF IDAHO, INC. HAGERMAN 3,438ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID HARVEY'S DISCOUNT STATIONERS, INC. TWIN FALLS 3,517ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID TRACY, LEEROY FRUITLAND 9,640SOLAR

ID QUALITY TRUSS AND LUMBER, INC. FILER 2,613ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID WEST POINT FARMS WENDELL 16,321SOLAR

ID GELLES, PAUL PINGREE 9,173ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ID MAGIC VALLEY TIRE OF RUPERT RUPERT 2,780ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Total ID   143,901

older
« The Cost of Getting Wind Power to Your Toaster

newer
Two views on Portland's new bike-sharing plan »

Comments