BANGOR — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that rural agricultural producers and small business owners can now apply for resources to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. These efforts help farmers, ranchers and other small business owners save money on their energy bills, reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, support America’s clean energy economy and cut carbon pollution. The resources are made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill.

In Rural Energy for America Program grant funding for Maine in 2015, $163,000 is available for grants of $20,000 and less, and $1,089,000 is available for grants of more than $20,000.

An example of a recent funding recipient under REAP is Mt. Abram Resort in Greenwood, which utilized a REAP grant in the amount of $235,000 to install an 803 solar photovoltaic system that will generate 70 percent of the energy needs at the ski area. It is a first at a ski area in Maine, and the second largest solar system at a ski area in the country.

For more information, or to receive application materials, please contact Cheryl Pelletier at cheryl.pelletier@me.usda.gov.

Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/me .