Carson area businesses get energy grants from USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved $186,200 in energy grants to small businesses in Carson City, Gardnerville and Stagecoach.

The grants will be used to enhance energy efficiency, develop alternative energy sources and conduct studies about using alternative energy.

According to a news release, Beth McCleary of McCleary Ranch in Carson City plans to use $13,162 to build a 9.75 kW solar photovoltaic system to generate 14,433 kWh of renewable energy annually for irrigation.

Roger Falcke’s ampm store on Highway 395 in Gardnerville will use a $12,500 grant to construct a 10 kW solar photovoltaic system to provide power for the store. The project will generate an estimated 18,270 kWh of renewable energy annually.

Ron Trunk of Iron Mountain Nursery in Stagecoach was awarded $12,476 to develop a 7 kW solar photovoltaic system to provide power for his small farm and nursery. The system is expected to generate 13,210 kWh of renewable energy annually.

Other grants include Winnemucca Farms for $50,000 to develop a 50kW solar photovoltaic system to provide power for irrigation on the farm.

Jagdish Desai was awarded $14,493 to develop a 100 million Btu solar thermal system to provide hot water for visitors at America’s Best Inn & Suites in Hawthorne. Desai was awarded $18,817 to develop a 19 kW solar photovoltaic system at the Monarch Motel, also in Hawthorne.

Yerington’s Desert Hills Dairy will use $15,002 to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of large solar systems to offset its electrical and propane power costs.

The Rural Energy for America Program grant application opens in the spring and is generally funded in late summer. For more information, go to www.rurdev.usda.gov/NVHome.html or call Mark Williams at 775-887-1222, ext. 116.