HARTFORD – U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Reps. John Larson (D-1), Joe Courtney (D-2), Rosa DeLauro (D-3), and Elizabeth Esty (D-5) announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $836,688 to Connecticut rural small businesses and agricultural producers through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help reduce energy usage and costs in their operations.

“By improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and creating jobs to support energy-saving measures, this funding is a win-win for rural business owners and agricultural producers across Connecticut. We applaud USDA for making this wise investment– a critical step towards a more energy efficient future in our state,” said Murphy, Blumenthal, Larson, Courtney, DeLauro, and Esty.

Below are the recipients of the USDA funding: 

RECIPIENT

TOWN

GRANT

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BEAUMONT, ALBERT  W BEAUMONT FARM

WALLINGFORD

$49,900

To install a hot water boiler designed for maximum heat recovery and efficiency and will supply 81% of the heating needs for three greenhouses, equivalent to 91.03 households.

BOTTICELLO FARMS, LLC

MANCHESTER

$49,950

To install a 60 kW roof mounted solar PV system which will replace 97% of their electricity at the farming operations, equivalent to 6.99 households.      

BUTTON, DUANE BUTTONWOOD FARMS

GRISWOLD

$48,825

To install a 63 kW roof mounted solar PV system which will replace 100% of their electrical needs which is equivalent to 7.31 households.

ENERGY STREAM, LLC

PUTNAM

$95,000

To renovate and upgrade major components of an existing Hydroelectric system. The upgrade will make more efficient use of existing water resources. Amount of energy produced will amount to 1,363,000 kW's equivalent to 125.77 households.

FREUNDS FARMS

EAST CANAAN

$156,408

To purchase and install a 223 kW roof mount solar PV system, which will replace 100% of their electricity at the farming operations equivalent to 25 households.

LOGEES GREENHOUSES LTD

DANIELSON

$49,588

To purchase and install a 48 kW room mounted solar PV system that will offset 45% of their farming operational needs equivalent to 4.49 households

OAKRIDGE FARMS

ELLINGTON

$192,561

To install a 246 kW roof mount solar PV system that will generate 304,617 kW annually which will offset 75% of their annual electrical usage, equivalent to 28.11 households.

SUN GOLD STABLES, LLC

BETHANY

$25,481

To install a 24.85 kW roof mounted solar PV system, which will replace 100% of their current electrical needs, equivalent to 2.73 households.

THE FOOD CYCLE, LLC

KENT

$28,936

To install a 27.55 kW roof mount solar PV system, which will meet 58.5% of the farm’s operation equivalent to 3.08 households.

WHITE FLOWER FARM, INC.

TORRINGTON

$140,039

To provide refrigeration upgrade, LED lighting upgrade; Gas fired heating units, HVAC replacements and Variable Frequency drives on a water heat pump to the greenhouses.  The estimate of energy saved is 729,669 kw's equivalent to 67.33 households.