Biden-Harris Administration invests US$207 million in clean energy and domestic fertilizer projects

Many of the projects are being funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.

The announcement was made by Secretary Vilsack at the 105th annual American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. This funding advances President Biden’s Investing in America and Bidenomics agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle-out and bottom up, create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets, lowering costs and expanding clean energy.

“President Biden and USDA are ensuring farmers, ranchers and small businesses are not only a part of the clean energy economy, but directly benefitting from it,” Secretary Vilsack said. “The investments announced will expand access to renewable energy infrastructure and increase domestic fertilizer production, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs that they can then invest back into their businesses and communities.”

The Department is awarding US$207 million in 42 states for projects through the rural energy for America program (reap) and the fertilizer production expansion program (FPEP).

Projects financed through FPEP will help U.S. farmers increase independent, domestic fertilizer production. The investments include US$50 million in seven projects in seven states. President Biden committed up to US$900 million through the commodity credit corporation for FPEP. Funding supports long-term investments that will strengthen supply chains, create new economic opportunities for American businesses, and support climate-smart innovation. For example:

ARE Properties LLC in Nebraska will build a fully automated fertilizer facility designed to manufacture custom products based on the results of plant tissue and soil samples. All equipment in the facility runs on natural gas with the long-range strategy to retrofit the facility for alternative energy sources in the future.

Biogas Corporation will purchase and install a new anaerobic digestion facility in Monroe County, North Carolina. This project is expected to create 19 additional positions. The new facility will produce 50 000 t of organic fertilizer and ammonium sulfate annually, all available to farming operations or resellers supporting local producers. Through the combustion process, the facility projects to generate 55 000 megawatts of clean energy per year to be purchased and distributed through Duke Energy Carolinas.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/special-reports/23012024/biden-harris-administration-invests-207-million-in-clean-energy-and-domestic-fertilizer-projects/