The Biden administration has said funding clean energy projects in rural communities is key to increasing the nation’s supply of renewable energy and for not leaving such areas behind as the United States tries to transition to a greener economy…

USDA will distribute $285 million in grants and loans through its Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for 844 projects in 46 states that will aid farmers with projects like the purchase and installation of solar arrays and implementing more energy-efficient farm equipment…

The agency is also opening applications for an additional $300 million in REAP funding, $250 million of which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which was passed by Congress in August and appropriated nearly $2 billion to REAP.