USDA invests over $2.5 million in Arkansas solar projects

ZY-AX QOZB LLC’s 1270 kWh solar array will power 174 homes, the largest Arkansas grant from the USDA. (Image Credit/Source: SOLARbytes)

 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing over $2.5 million in grants to support 13 solar power projects across Arkansas as part of a federal initiative promoting renewable energy in rural areas. These grants, distributed through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), aim to reduce energy costs, create jobs, and increase clean energy use in rural areas. The largest Arkansas grant of $1 million was awarded to ZY-AX QOZB LLC, while Saul Minnow Farms, Inc. received $699,821. The smallest grant of $80,803 went to First Natural State Bank in McGhee. These Arkansas awards are part of a broader USDA package totaling $126 million across 654 projects in 39 states. The USDA has also announced an additional $600 million for funding rounds between 2024 and 2027.