The USDA on June 26 awarded nearly $100 million in loans and grants to 473 projects under the Renewable Energy for America Program. Commonwealth Agri-Energy LLC and Redfield Energy LLC were among those selected for grant awards.
Commonwealth Agri-Energy, a 50 MMgy corn ethanol plant located in Kentucky, was awarded a $1 million grant to support the installation of an additional fermenter tank to produce ethanol. According to the USDA, the new tank is expected to allow the company to produce an additional 1 million gallons of ethanol annually.
Redfield Energy, a 60 MMgy corn ethanol plant located in South Dakota, was also awarded a $1 million grant. According to the USDA, the funding will support the purchase and installation of an ethanol production expansion system. The project is expected to generate nearly 240 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, which is enough electricity to power 22,142 homes.
A full list of REAP awardees is available on the USDA website.
