01/23/09 Propane savings III

In the last two reports, propane experts have told us that upgrading old equipment or implementing new propane driven equipment into ag operations can improve efficiency and decrease costs along with helping the environment. As an Idaho producer, you might be thinking "Great!!...but how do I get the money?" To foster rural economic development and growth, Congress passed the Rural Energy for America Program or (REAP) known as Section 9007 of the 2008 Farm Bill. Rural small businesses and agricultural producers (that's fed-speak for farmers) can apply for grants, guaranteed loans and combination grant/guaranteed loans to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements in rural areas. According to Mark Leitman who is Director of Agriculture Programs for the Propane and Education Research Council:" That's a program that allows agriculture producers to re-cupe 25% of the cost of efficiency upgrades on their farm and also guarantees loans of up to 50% of a project's total cost. The project must involve the upgrade or increasing energy efficiency of your agricultural enterprise. It could be building heating or it could be crop drying or any number of other energy efficiency improvements you might want to make in your operation. There are a lot of propane technologies that will fit the bill and qualify under this program." Interested farmers can call their local Rural Development office for applications. Visit (www.rurdev.USDA.gov) to find the office in your area. And for more on propane - go to (www.agpropane.com).