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Dane Henshall (202) 260-0996

**USDA AWARDS \$35 MILLION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY**

**AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS**

***Funding will help 639 small businesses and farmers save energy,
improve operations***

BISMARCK, North Dakota, August 27, 2008 ---Agriculture Secretary Ed
Schafer today announced that 639 individuals and businesses in 43 states
and the Virgin Islands have been selected to receive \$35 million in
grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems or to improve
energy efficiency in farm and business operations.

"America is a world leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency,"
Schafer said. "These projects are good for business, good for the
economy, good for jobs, and they help secure more self-sufficient energy
resources for our country."

The grants and loan guarantees are being awarded through USDA Rural
Development's Section 9006 Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
Efficiency Improvements program. The program provides financial
assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to
support renewable energy projects across a wide range of technologies
encompassing biomass (including anaerobic digesters), geothermal,
hydrogen, solar and wind energy. It also provides support for energy
efficiency improvements, helping recipients reduce energy consumption
and improve operations. Of the \$35 million announced today, \$27.5
million are grants and \$7.4 million are guaranteed loans.

In South Dakota, the following recipients have been selected to receive
funding:

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Project**                       **Grant**          **Loan**
  --------------------------------- ------------------ -------------------
  Donna & Jerald Zubke              \$49,729           \$49,729

  Blooming Valley Grain Farms, Inc. \$16,144           \$16,144

  Zochert Farms, Inc.               \$29,580           \$29,580

  Aaron Frerichs                    \$49,586           \$49,586

  Clifford Nowell                   \$11,849           \$11,250

  Ed\'s Food Market Inc. dba        \$23,559           

  John Oetken                       \$37,150           

  Kenneth J. Kayser                 \$9,686            

  Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc. \$91,939           

  Ruth Novotny                      \$5,359            

  MHB Feeds, LLC                    \$48,509           

  Salem Veterinary Clinic           \$15,680           
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the
conditions of the award agreement. For a complete list of recipients go
to: <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/2008/08-27-2008-0996rl.pdf>.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and
improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has
invested more than \$90 billion since 2001 for equity and technical
assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business
development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More
than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these
investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a
local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural
Development's website at
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/).

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