USDA invests in rural communities in South Carolina

South Carolina receives more than $5.5 million in this round of REAP funding

PUBLISHED ON July 28, 2024

COLUMBIA, SC — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is working with farmers and small businesses to expand access to clean energy and reduce energy bills through the Rural Energy Program for America (REAP) and the Rural Energy Technical Assistance Grant Program for America.

“South Carolina is receiving more than $5.5 million in this round of REAP funding,” said George W. Hicks, Jr., acting state director of USDA Rural Development South Carolina. “This funding will ultimately reduce energy costs for our small businesses and agricultural producers while also benefiting the environment.”

REAP enables agricultural producers and small rural business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal, and small hydropower and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, and address climate change, all while lowering energy costs for American families.

In South Carolina:

• Ashley Solar, LLC is receiving nearly $2.8 million in combined loans and grants for the purchase and installation of a 3.564 MWdc utility-scale commercial solar array. Ashley Solar LLC is a newly formed entity with the goal of generating electricity in Darlington County. The system is estimated to produce 4,538,200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 419 homes.
• Walter P Rawl & Sons, Inc. based in Lexington County will use a $944,212 grant to with the purchase and installation of an 899.3-kilowatt (kW) direct current (DC) ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar array. This is an agricultural business that grows leafy greens for retail and hospitality. This project will generate $84,523 per year in savings and replace 1,418,867 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 131 homes.
• Luz Solar, LLC, a newly formed entity focused on generating electricity in Darlington County, is receiving $1.7 million in combined loans and grants to purchase and install a 1.782 Megawatt Defined Conditions (MWDC) utility-scale commercial solar array. The system is estimated to produce 2,282,300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, enough electricity to power 211 homes.
• C&M Hog Farms, LLC, located in Dillon County, received a $94,846 grant to purchase and install a new GSI 1226 grain dryer. This project will result in $9,666 per year in savings and conserve 81,178 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power eight homes.

Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $2.2 billion through REAP in 7,566 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. These projects will help small businesses and rural farmers reduce their energy bills by an average of $25,000 per year, generate new renewable energy revenues, and strengthen their business resilience. The energy generated and saved by these projects would provide enough electricity to power more than 630,000 homes over the course of a year.

USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, such as wind and geothermal. For more information, contact a local energy coordinator.

A complete overview of all REAP projects throughout the country can be found here online.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to expand economic opportunity, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. REAP is part of the President’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to ensure that 40 percent of the benefits of certain federal investments go to underserved communities. The program supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed Internet access in rural, tribal, and low-income areas. Visit the National data gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans in so many positive ways every day. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and revenue streams for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy opportunities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce that is more representative of America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov.

–USDA