From staff reports Four Oklahoma farms, including two in southwest Oklahoma, are among an estimated 400 across the nation set to receive financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for alternative energy projects.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the project, with the cooperation of the Energy Department, will help small and medium-sized farms save money and potentially boost incomes in rural communications.
The effort will expand the Rural Energy for America Program, which combines grants and loan guarantees to promote alternative energy in rural areas. The Inflation Reduction Act specifically set aside $144 million for “underutilized technologies,” which includes wind and other sources.
A grant of $24,492 to A to Z Land LLC in Hobart will pay for installation of a 15-kilowatt wind turbine. It is estimated the turbine will save the farm business $7,229 a year and generate 57,376 kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power five homes.
Justin James Weichel, a farmer in Cordell, will receive $37,643 to install a 15kW wind turbine. The project, according to the USDA announcement, will save the business $7,126 a year and also produce 50,188 kilowatt-hours of electricity.