More than $14 million in funding for 424 projects in 22 states, including several biomass- and biofuels-related projects, were recently announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"Today's Rural Energy for America Program announcements will provide further assistance for agricultural producers and rural small business owners to save energy, promote renewable energy creation, and boost the bottom line for their operation," Vilsack said. "By investing in renewable energy created in rural America, USDA is able to provide new income opportunities in our small towns while supporting the Obama Administration's comprehensive effort to combat the impacts of a changing climate."

REAP funding helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses with projects to reduce energy consumption and costs as well as adopt renewable energy technologies. A total of 25 percent of each project can be funded through a grant. However, additional money can come in the form of a loan guarantee. REAP has funded more than 8,250 projects since President Obama was first elected.

Five biomass projects received funding, including an ethanol plant poised to break ground on a co-located corn oil-to-biodiesel plant.  Three of the projects received $500,000, including Adkins Energy LLC of Illinois, Waste No Energy LLC in Indiana and Enginuity Worldwide LLC of Missouri. Woodcrest Dairy LLC of New York received $403,627 and MW Collins Inc. in Georgia received $93,000.

The list also included five projects to install flex-fuel gas pumps. Three of the gas stations, Fredericksburg Farmers’ Cooperative, CA C-Stores Inc. and Oak Street Station, are located in Iowa and received $24,798, $31,072 and $49,999 respectively. Two of the projects, a station owned by David Severson and Locken Oil LLC, received $43,513 and $49,754.

For a full list of award recipients, see the USDA website.