Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) at an Event in Portland Last Year..

Ten businesses in Maine’s First District are the recipients of $657,298. in grants from the US Department of Agriculture (USA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) announced Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today.  The “infusion” of rural development funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by Congrssional Democrats and signed by President Joe Biden.

“The Inflation Reduction Act rerpresents the single largest investment in rural elecctrification since passage of the Rural Electrification Act in 1936 and is making enormous strides to incentivize rural and farming communities in their transition to clean energy,” said Congresswoman Pingree, a long-time organic farmer and member of the House Agricultural Committee.  “Thanks to this landmark legislation, the rural Energy for America Program is helping well-deserving businesses in Maine and across the country reduce their carbon footprints and cut their utility costs at the same time.  The REAP grants in my disrict will go a long way in helping rural businesses be pardt of the climate solution.”

Today’s REAP recipients in Pingree’s First District include:  NC HUNT INC., Jefferson; COPELAND GARAGE INC., Warren; HATCHETT MOUNTAIN GARAGE INC., Hope; DOLES ORCHARD BOX SHOP LLC., Limington; DOUGLAS H. MACGILPIN LLC., Brunswick; WINSLOW FARM LLC., Falmouth; BOCA BUILDERS, LLC., Woolwich; JUNCTION GARDEN LLC, Vassalboro; MCDONNEL BROTHERS CUSTOM BUILDERS, LLC, Winslow; BRANCATOS HEATING & COOLING INC., Brunswick.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) championed by House Democrats and signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, repreents the single larget investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history.