Britt’s Farm receives grant for solar energy installation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that Rural Development is awarding over $4.2 million in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower their energy costs.

Locally, that includes a grant totaling more than $85,000 awarded to Britts Farm to purchase and install an 86.4 killowatt solar array. It will replace over 100,000 killowatt hours per year, which officials say is enough energy to power nine homes.

There were 34 projects approved in Kansas. Grants were awarded nationally in 44 states and 1 territory. USDA is awarding these loans and grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

The details of the Kansas projects are listed below.

• An $11,987 grant will help purchase and install an 8.6-kilowatt rooftop solar system for CTB West 15^th LLC of Emporia. The project will replace 13,416 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, over 100 percent of the company’s electricity use, and enough to power more than one home.
• A $448,440 grant will help purchase and install 149-kilowatt total in solar arrays for Carrico Implement Company Inc. in Beloit, Hays, and Ellsworth. The project is estimated to annually replace 862,996 kilowatt hours, enough energy to power 81 homes. Carrico Implement has 90 employees.
• A $79,914 grant will help purchase and install replacement energy efficient refrigeration and freezers at Clasen LLC’s Gene’s Heartland Foods store in Eudora. The project is expected to save 170,912 kilowatt hours per year, which is 25.4 percent of the facility’s usage, enough to power 16 homes. The project is expected to save the company $17,785 per year in electrical costs.
• A $55,600 grant will help purchase and install a 64.2-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for of Jayco Vent Valve Inc. in Parsons. The project is expected to replace 71,585 kilowatt hours per year, 74 percent of Jayco Vent Valve’s usage and enough energy to power six homes. The project is expected to save the company $10,659 per year in electrical costs.
• A $20,000 grant will help purchase and install a 15.5-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Town Royal LLC of Emporia. The project is expected to replace 23,876 kilowatt hours per year, nearly half of Town Royal’s usage and enough energy to power two homes. The project is expected to save the company $3,106 per year in electrical costs.
• A $79,987 grant will help purchase and install a 67.1-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Blue Water SC LLC in Emporia. The project is expected to replace 87,822 kilowatt hours per year, which is 91.6 percent of Blue Water’s usage and enough to power eight homes. The project is expected to save the company $14,246 per year in electrical costs.
• A $48,787 grant will help purchase and install a 36.6-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Kress LLC in Emporia. The project is expected to replace 55,840 kilowatt hours per year, 51.3 percent of Kress’s usage and enough to power five homes. The project is expected to save the company $8,090 per year in electrical costs.
• A $23,284 grant will help purchase and install a 21.56-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Carl’s Sales & Service Inc. in Thayer. The project is expected to replace 33,331 kilowatt hours per year, which is 99.8 percent of Carl’s Sales & Service’s usage and enough to power three homes. The project is expected to save the company $5,322 per year in electrical costs.
• A $247,250 grant will help purchase and install a 308-kilowatt solar array for Central Electropolishing Company Inc. of Anthony. The project is estimated to replace 421,670 kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power 39 homes. Central Electropolishing currently has 29 employees.
• A $269,120 grant will help purchase and install a 278-kilowatt solar array for BMG of Kansas Inc. in Hesston. The project is estimated to replace 362,700 kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power 34 homes. BMG of Kansas currently has 52 employees.
• A $79,995 grant will help purchase and install a 62.72-kilowatt solar array for Barkman Honey LLC of Hillsboro. The project is estimated to replace 98,633 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power nine homes. Barkman Honey currently has 185 employees.
• A $26,117 grant will help purchase and install a 21.33-kilowatt solar array for Carl Prather of Beloit. The project is estimated to replace 28,560 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power two homes. Carl Prather currently has one employee.
• A $115,920 grant will help purchase and install 41-kilowatts in solar arrays for Daniel William Rempe of Corning. The project is estimated to replace 182,673 kilowatt hours per year.  Enough energy to power 17 homes. Rempe currently has one employee.
• A $46,898 grant will help purchase and install a 50-kilowatt solar array for Yoder Metal & Post Frame Building Supplies LLC of Haven. The project is estimated to replace 79,073 kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power seven homes. Yoder Metal currently has 10 employees.
• A $60,704 grant will help to purchase and install a 37.8-kilowatt solar array for Reno Fabricating & Sales Co. Inc. of Hutchinson. The project is estimated to replace 54,179 kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power five homes. Reno Fabricating & Sales currently has 14 employees.
• A $72,480 grant will help purchase and install a 46.2-kilowatt solar array for First Bank of Lyons. The project is estimated to replace 73.122 kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power six homes. First Bank currently has ten employees.
• A $233,856 grant will help purchase and install a 201.6-kilowatt solar array for Pestinger Distribution Company Inc. of Salina. The project is estimated to replace 284,835 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power 26 homes. Pestinger Distribution currently has 38 employees.
• A $20,800 grant will help purchase and install a 20-kilowatt solar array for Zimmerman Ag Service Inc. of Belle Plaine. The project is estimated to replace 29,340 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power two homes. Zimmerman Ag Service currently has one employee.
• A $119,587 grant will help B’s Hometown Market LLC, of La Crosse, make energy efficiency improvements with refrigeration equipment and LED lighting. This project will realize $8,508 savings per year and will replace 80,401 kilowatt hours, enough energy to power seven homes.
• A $181,996 grant will help purchase and install a 157.3-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Bird City Dairy LLC of Cheyenne County. This project will realize $12,318 per year in savings and will replace 237,500 kilowatt hours per year, enough electricity to power 21 homes.
• A $79,805 grant will help purchase and install an 84.53-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system and battery back-up storage system for R.H. Ackerman LLC of Osborne County.  This project will realize $14,785 per year in savings and will replace 82,720 kilowatt hours per year, enough electricity to power seven homes.
• A $51,054 grant will help purchase and install a 39-kilowatt solar array for Taylor Machine Shop LLC of Newton. The project is estimated to replace 56,053 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power five homes. Taylor Machine Shop currently has six employees.
• A $242,848 grant will help purchase and install a 275-kilowatt solar array for Kelly Hills Leasing Inc. of Seneca. The project is estimated to replace 390,098 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power 36 homes. Kelly Hills Leasing currently has one employee.
• A $106,211 grant will help purchase and install a 90.1-kilowatt solar array for Phil’s Farm LLC of Hutchinson. The project is estimated to replace 165,4041 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power 15 homes. Phil’s Farm currently has 10 employees.
• A $99,299 grant will help purchase and install a 180-kilowatt solar array for Sterling Heritage Hogs LLC of Sterling. The project is estimated to replace 95,140 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power eight homes. Sterling Heritage Hogs currently has one employee.
• A $85,715 grant will help purchase and install an 86.4-kilowatt solar array for Britts Farm of Manhattan. The project is estimated to replace 101,003 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power nine homes. Britts Farm currently has five employees.
• A $50,668 grant will help purchase and install a 46.41-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Jock’s Nitch Inc. of Pittsburg. The project is expected to replace 66,125 kilowatt hours per year, 97 percent of the company’s usage and enough energy to power six homes. The project is expected to save the company $9,619 per year.
• A $54,885 grant will help purchase and install a 41.58-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Grow at Eden, a childcare facility in Parsons. The project is expected to replace 63,684 kilowatt hours per year, 115 percent of the company’s usage and enough to power six homes. The project is expected to save the company $9,196 per year.
• A $32,140 grant will help purchase and install a 32.4-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for AMP Commercial, a real estate leasing business in Ellis County. This project will realize $2,733 per year in savings and will replace 25,863 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power two homes.
• A $50,494 grant will help purchase and install energy efficient refrigeration units for LaDow’s Market of Lebanon. This project will realize $4,978 per year in savings and will replace 56,731 kilowatt hours, enough electricity to power five homes.
• A $22,300 grant will help purchase and install a 16.28-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Casey Andersen of Gove County. This project will realize $2,335 per year in savings and will replace 21,358 kilowatt hours, which is enough energy to power two homes.
• A $72,726 grant will help purchase and install a 47.52-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Greg Andersen of Gove County. This project will realize $2,946 per year in savings and will replace 33,067 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power three homes.
•  A $1,000,000 grant will be used to improve an ethanol recovery system for Western Plains Energy LLC of Gove County. This project will generate additional biofuel of 4.8 million gallons each year, enough to fuel 6,534 automobiles per year.
• A $23,264 grant will help purchase and install a 15.91-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for Shannon Hopson of Thomas County. This project will realize $1,791.30 per year in savings and will replace 20,161 kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power nearly two homes.