USDA funding clean energy and biofuels in Kansas

Wil Day
·3 min read

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced over $5.3 million to help fund seven clean energy projects in Kansas.

The funds are part of the Rural Energy For America Program and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The goal of the funding is to expand access to domestic biofuels, create new market opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and businesses, create jobs, and reduce energy bills.

“The USDA is helping expand access to clean energy and fueling options that promote energy independence and save Kansans money,” says Rural Development Kansas State Director Christy Davis. “We are excited to partner with farms and small businesses to address energy solutions, economic growth and keep rural communities strong.”

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The projects receiving funding are:

  • A $44,940 grant will help purchase and install a 35-kilowatt solar array for Flint Hills Designs LLC of Newton. The project is estimated to replace 52,111-kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power four homes.

  • A $396,305 grant will help purchase and install a 330-kilowatt solar array for New Age Industrial Corporation Inc. of Norton. This project will realize $46,597 per year in savings and will generate 446,400-kilowatt hours, enough electricity to power 41 homes.

  • A $394,440 grant will help purchase and install a 149-kilowatt and 225-kilowatt solar array for CNL Ranch LLC in Stanton County. This project will generate 623,061-kilowatt hours per year, enough electricity to power 57 homes.

  • A $452,500 grant will help purchase and install miscellaneous energy-efficient equipment for Nesika Energy LLC of Scandia. The project is estimated to save 1,181,689-kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power 111 homes.

  • A $572,968 grant will help purchase and install a 445-kilowatt solar array for White’s Kingco, Inc., a grocer in Kingman and Lindsborg. The project is estimated to replace 637,326-kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power 60 homes.

  • A $500,000 grant will help purchase and install energy-efficient improvements for North Star Feeds of Atchison. North Star Feeds will replace their existing boiler with a more efficient model, insulate and shorten their water and steam lines, install a return to conserve energy and water, replace existing tanks with new insulated storage tanks, and replace existing truck-mounted diesel pumps with efficient electric models. The project is expected to save 850-kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, 8,692,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 17,755 gallons of diesel fuel, and 3,410 gallons of unleaded gasoline per year, which is a 73 percent reduction in energy use and enough energy to power more than 300 homes. The project is expected to save the company $154,886 per year in energy costs.

  • A $3,000,000 grant will help create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels through Blue River Valley LLC’s site in Potwin. This project will consist of rebuilding two two-million-gallon ethanol storage tanks, loading equipment, and a site controller. This project is expected to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 238,710,000 gallons per year.

You can see all Rural development projects currently being funding across Kansas and the rest of the United States by clicking here.

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