This week, Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski announced that 11 farmers and small business owners in Piatt, Madison, and Macoupin Counties will receive a combined $952,249 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

These funds will go directly to energy efficiency upgrades - namely the buildout of new solar arrays - that will lower energy bills for recipients. 

In total, the solar energy capacity added from this funding will generate $140,000 in energy savings per year for local businesses, and the energy generated from the new installations is enough to power 75 homes.

$45,375 will go to Levchas LLC, a building lessor in Monticello and $51,870 will go to Pregame Sports, a fitness and recreation center in Monticello.

The Rural Energy for America Program offers guaranteed loan financing and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. 

These innovations help recipients increase their income, grow their businesses, reduce emissions and lower energy costs for families. 

Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. 

So far, REAP has invested more than $2.7 billion in 9,901 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the country.