On December 3, 2021, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department is investing $1 million to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities in Pennsylvania. As part of the Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying jobs and combatting the climate crisis top priorities.
“Rural America is on the front lines of climate change, and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen all of our resilience,” Vilsack said. “President Biden has created a roadmap for how we can tackle the climate crisis and expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs. With the Build Back Better agenda, USDA will be able to fund more and more critical projects like those announced today in the coming months and years.”
The announcement was made at Saubel’s Market in York County, Pa. The local grocery store was one of 22 projects receiving Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency/pa or Community Facilities Disaster Grants https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-programin Pennsylvania.
Saubel’s Market will receive a $102,413 USDA REAP grant. With this funding, the small business will install solar panels on the roof of their family-owned grocery store that has been in business since the 1960s. This project is expected to save $30,852 per year and will replace 395,539 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 36 homes annually.