Four Hawaii Farms Awarded Grants for Solar Power Projects

Posted on Sep 25, 2013 in 2013 News Releases, News-Releases

NR13-10

HONOLULU – Four Hawaii farms have been awarded a total of $62,000 in federal grants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help reduce their energy consumption and costs.  Hawaii was one of 22 states that received funding under USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

“With new food safety standards requiring temperature control of produce, rising energy costs are hitting farmers particularly hard,” said Russell S. Kokubun, Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. “Renewable energy technologies are becoming necessities for the majority of food growers and these grants will help make farms more efficient and sustainable.” 

The following are the Hawaii farms receiving funding under this program:

  • Kunia Country Farms, LLC (Oahu) $19,750 Install solar energy system

    Just Green Solutions, LLC/
    Kauai Farm Connection (Kauai) 

    $20,000 Install solar grid tie and batter backup system
    Dan Dong/Harvest Farms, LLC (Oahu) $17,631 Install solar energy system
    Holbrook Beck/Hanalei Tropicals (Kauai)  $4,619 Install solar energy system

REAP offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other private funding sources. REAP also helps the conservation of natural resources and the development of new forms of energy that reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels and creates a stronger rural economy.  More information on the grant program is available at: https://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/09/0189.xml&contentidonly=true

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