USDA News Release

Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley encourages farmers, rural small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for financing in a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides grants and loan guarantees to help lower their energy costs. Read more here.

LINKS TO ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

• Who may apply?
  Small businesses in eligible rural areas and agricultural producers, both rural and non-rural, who have at least 50% of their gross income coming from agricultural operations, may apply. REAP grants provide up to 25% of the total project costs, and a grant and loan combination up to 75%. Eligible projects include renewable energy systems and the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements.
  See REAP Fact Sheet for a complete list of eligible projects.
• Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
• Nebraska REAP Program
  Contact: Jeff Carpenter, Nebraska Rural Development Energy Coordinator
  Telephone: 402-437-5554
  Email: Jeff.Carpenter@ne.usda.gov

LINKS TO INCENTIVES & MORE 

Federal Investment Tax Credit: 30% to December 31, 2019.

SEIA Infographic 

• Solar ITC 101: What is the Solar Investment Tax Credit?, SEIA Fact Sheet
• Nebraska Incentives: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
• Iowa Incentives: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
• Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit (ITC)
• Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
• Nebraska Energy Office’s Dollar and Energy Saving Loans
  Nebraska Dollar and Energy Saving Loans are offered statewide by the Nebraska Energy Office and the state’s lending institutions. The simple interest rates are as low as 1% – 1.5% for certain loan categories. The final annual percentage rate (APR) may vary by lender and loan fees charged.
• Solar Examples, Nebraskans for Solar
• Directory of Nebraska Solar Businesses, Nebraskans for Solar 

LES Solar Incentive
Additionally, LES customers may qualify for a one-time capacity payment of up to $1,000 per kilowatt of peak demand reduced. The total amount customers can receive is determined by the system size and primary direction the system is facing, for example:

• Southern facing fixed-photovoltaic solar – the unit’s nameplate DC capacity (kW) x $375.
• Western facing or single or dual axis tracking fixed-photovoltaic solar – the unit’s nameplate DC capacity (kW) x $475.
  
  Source: Customer-owned Renewable Generation

Business Equipment Depreciation Resources

• New rules and limitations for depreciation and expensing under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, IRS
• Publication 946: How to Depreciate Property, IRS

More Farm Energy Resources

• USDA’s National Agricultural Library: Solar Resources
• USDA’s National Agricultural Library: Wind Energy

ALSO IN THE NEWS

• Video: Solar Energy A Growing Option For Farms And Businesses, Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net. At a recent field day displaying solar technology in use, Ohio Ag Net’s Dale Minyo caught up with Eli Mast of Mast Farm Service and Sheldon Stutzman of Paradise Energy Solutions to talk about the growing interest and viability of solar technology to offset energy costs.
• Every Farm Has Unique Energy Use Footprint, Dairy Herd Management