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USDA announces over $22 million in Mich. rural clean energy grants — but may have to rush them

J. Carl Ganter
/
Circle of Blue
Farm buildings can often have large roofs and can get a lot of sun - sun that could harvest energy to produce electricity for the farmer and reduce energy costs.

The USDA has announced more than $256 million in loans and grants for clean energy projects in 40 states.

Michigan farms and rural businesses will get more than $22 million — nearly 9% percent of the announced total — if the grants come through.

Sixty-nine rural businesses and farms in the state will get grants, ranging from, for example, $1 million for solar panels at the Devereax Saw Mill in Ionia County, to roughly $10,000 to help the Blue Ridge Blueberry Farm in St. Clair County upgrade its lighting and irrigation equipment.

Many of the grants are for solar arrays and roof mounted solar systems for dairy, hog, and other types of agricultural businesses.

That the grants come from the Inflation Reduction Act could mean they're not a complete certainty at this point.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to claw back any unspent IRA funding once he takes office.

Federal agencies are reportedly rushing to put announced IRA grants and loans under contract, which could make it harder for the government to back out of paying.

Updated: November 19, 2024 at 3:54 PM EST
After publication, a spokesperson for Michigan U.S. Senator Gary Peters told Michigan Public that, "these funds have been obligated and are protected from potential rescissions in the future."
Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.
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