Cliff Kumm (402) 223-3125

# 

# USDA Rural Development Provides Grants Promoting 

# Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

**Beatrice, Neb. January 5, 2006-**USDA Rural Development's Scot Blehm,
state director for Nebraska, presented nine recipients with symbolic
funding checks today. The checks, totaling over \$176,000, represent
USDA's commitment to developing renewable energy systems and making
energy-efficient improvements to assist producers and rural small
businesses.

"The grants being recognized today will assist the recipients in making
energy efficiency improvements or to develop renewable energy systems
that will help ensure the profitability and sustainability of their
business or farm operation," stated Blehm. "The dollars saved on energy
and injected back into Nebraska's rural economy will help rural
communities to thrive."

Check recipients include:

-   Goertzen-Ensz Farms Partnership of Beatrice will utilize \$8,940 for
    conversion to a higher energy efficient irrigation system employing
    an energy conserving pumping system, electric motor, and low
    pressure pivot. Energy costs will be reduced by 80 percent, saving
    697 million British thermal units (btus) annually. Cost of
    investment will be returned in 3.5 years.

-   Grand Central Foods Inc. of York will use \$39,290 to assist in
    purchasing new energy efficient ice cream freezers, freezer display
    cases and ice merchandisers for their grocery store. Energy costs
    will be reduced by 50 percent, saving over 400,000 kilowatt hours
    (kwhs) yearly with the cost of investment returned in 6 years.

-   Heavenly Treasures Inc. of Pawnee City received \$5,700 to install
    energy improvements to include new heating/cooling as well as new
    windows and lighting in their small, retail business. Over 167
    million btus of energy will be saved yearly reducing energy
    consumption by 50 percent.

-   Fred Koch of Beatrice plans to utilize \$15,630 to replace a gravity
    irrigation system with an efficient, low pressure pivot system and
    electric motor. Conversion will save 3,285 kwhs of energy, reducing
    consumption by over 30 percent.

-   Mulhall Farm's Inc. of Gretna, producers of trees, shrubs and other
    nursery stock, received \$49,830 that will assist in the
    installation of a geo-thermal heating system for several new green
    houses being constructed by the farm operation. The heating system
    will generate 120,000 btus/hr per green house and will replace 95
    percent of normal heating needs.

-more-

-2-

-   Gene Niederklein of Wilber received \$17,250 to assist in converting
    from an inefficient, gravity irrigation system to a highly
    efficient, low pressure pivot system and electric motor. Over 69
    million btus of energy will be saved, reducing energy consumption by
    54 percent.

-   Larry Siebert of Henderson will utilize \$17,370 to convert from a
    gravity irrigation system and natural gas power units to energy
    efficient pivot systems and electric motors. Conversion will save 67
    percent in energy consumption and over 500 million btus of actual
    energy.

-   Sorensen Grading of Plattsmouth will utilize \$2,670 to make energy
    efficiency improvements to their business including lighting and
    heating system improvements, overhead shop door replacement, and
    installation of insulation. Fifty percent or 3,637 kwhs of energy
    will be saved equating to approximately \$587 a year.

-   Wahoo Locker, LLC of Wahoo will use \$19,610 to replace existing
    locker equipment with more energy efficient systems. Nearly 249
    million btus or 69 percent of energy consumption will be saved,
    equating to approximately \$3,500 a year in energy savings.

Statewide, \$418,348 in energy grants were awarded in Fiscal Year 2005
assisting in 36 energy efficiency improvement projects and 1 renewable
energy. The 2002 Farm Bill made available monies for energy projects
through the USDA Rural Development Energy Efficiency Improvements and
Renewable Energy Systems program. Since the beginning of the program,
Nebraska has received nearly \$778,000 for 57 energy projects.

Energy grants are awarded to farmers, ranchers, and for-profit small
rural businesses for renewable energy systems such as wind, solar,
biomass, biogas, or geothermal sources or hydrogen derived from biomass
or water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources; and for energy
efficiency improvement projects such as improvements to HVAC systems,
insulation, refrigeration, lighting, pumping systems, air systems, motor
systems, irrigation systems, etc.

For additional information contact Cliff Kumm, 201 N. 25^th^ Beatrice,
Neb. 68310, cliff.kumm@ne.usda.gov, (402) 223-3125; (402) 437-5093
(TDY). Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/.

\#

"USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity provider, employer and
lender."

To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250-9410

or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).