$1.8 million in grants and rural energy funding for the surrounding local areas

On Friday, Feb. 16, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)announced that ten small businesses in Madison and Macoupin counties will be receiving more than $1.8 million in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These funds will go directly to energy efficiency upgrades that will lower energy bills for recipients.

Many of the awards allow for the buildout of new solar arrays. In total, the solar energy capacity added from this funding will generate $305,200 in energy savings per year for local businesses, and the energy generated from the ne...