|
WASHINGTON, DC, US, July 20, 2005 (Refocus
Weekly)
Guaranteed loan funds of US$200 million are
available to agriculture producers and rural small businesses that
invest in renewable energy systems and energy efficiency
improvements.
The US Department of Agriculture says the funds will support a
wide range of technologies including solar, wind, geothermal,
biomass (including anaerobic digesters), hydrogen and energy
efficiency improvements. The $200 million ($11.4 million in actual
cost to the U.S. government) is part of the $22.8 million announced
earlier this year by agriculture secretary Mike Johanns.
In March, Johanns said half of the $22.8 million would be made
available immediately in the form of grants, with a deadline for
applying for grants of June 27. The balance of the funds were
delayed while application guidelines were developed for the loan
program, and he says the remaining $11.4 million will convert into
an estimated $200 million in guaranteed loans.
Funds for loans will be set aside until August 31, and final details
on the application process will be published in the Federal
Register. Funds which are not obligated by the end of next month
under the guarantee loan program will be reallocated to the
competitive grant program.
The 2002 Farm Bill established a loan and grant program under
Section 9006 for Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency
Improvements, to encourage agricultural producers and small rural
businesses to create renewable and energy efficient systems. To
date, the federal administration has invested $45 million in 32
states through the program.
USDA Rural Development is a venture capital entity, and has invested
$54 billion in the past five years to provide equity and technical
assistance to finance growth in home ownership, business development
and technology infrastructure for rural residents. More than one
million jobs have been created or saved through these investments,
the department claims.
Click here for more info...
Visit http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/
for your international energy focus!!
Refocus © Copyright 2005, Elsevier
Ltd, All rights reserved.
|
