{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-16-million-for-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-projects-in-maine", "Collins, King Announce More than $1.6 Million for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Projects in Maine", "2015-10-27", "2015", "2015-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce More than $1.6 Million for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Projects in Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 27, 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced that fourteen Maine businesses will receive federal grants totaling more than $1.6 million to support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the state. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program.      More and more Maine businesses are turning to renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures in order to save money and better protect the environment, said Senators King and Collins in a joint statement. Federal investment can often be a catalyst in spurring these important changes, which is why we welcome this USDA funding to support clean energy development and energy efficiency in Maines rural communities. This is a win-win for our small businesses and for our environment.      The list of newly-announced Maine award recipients is below:\r\n \r\nAthens Energy, LLC, Somerset County, $56,520 grantforenergy efficiency\r\nAthens Energy, LLC, Somerset County, $500,000 grant forthermal conversion\r\nJanel Inc. DBA Camp Tapawingo, Somerset County, $29,900 grant forsolar\r\nJustice Farm, Inc., Cumberland County, $8,565 grant for solar\r\nLabrie Farms, LLC, Aroostook County, $49,500 grant forsolar\r\nMaine Beer Company LLC, Cumberland County $49,273 grant forsolar \r\nMichaud, Gilles, Aroostook County, $106,862 grantforsolar \r\nNorth Branch, LLC, Waldo County, $5,048 grant for solar\r\nPlanson International Corporation, Cumberland County, $27,222 grant forsolar \r\nRicker Hill Orchards, Androscoggin County, $22,261 grant forenergy efficiency \r\nSmith's Farm, Inc., Aroostook County, $227,681 grant forsolar\r\nSparky's Apiaries, Inc., Knox County, $1,867 grantforenergy efficiency\r\nThe Wildwood Corporation, Cumberland County,$59,301grant forsolar\r\nVgblads, LLC, Cumberland County  Brunswick Landing,$500,000 grant foranaerobic digester\r\nWilliam M Lowe, Inc., Knox County, $19,950grant forsolar \r\n \r\n   The grant funding is part of a larger $70 million investment from the USDA that will support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide. Congress created the REAP program in 2002 in order to provide guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses so that they can purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. According to the USDA, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects since 2009 that have helped reduce energy costs for rural businesses across the country.   \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-16-million-for-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-projects-in-maine"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3556228950619698, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}