September 15, 2004

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Tom Petri reports that five businesses in the 6th Congressional District will receive rural development grants from the U.S. Agriculture Department to assist in developing renewable energy systems and in making energy- efficient improvements to their operations.

Lake Breeze Dairy, LLC, of Malone will receive a $500,000 grant to purchase and install an anaerobic digester to produce energy to sell to the power grid as "green" energy. The energy produced will be 4,835,520 kWh annually. Leveraged funds in the amount of $1,845,754 are committed to this project in addition to the grant.

Hilltop Dairy of Markesan will receive $275,500 to purchase and install an anaerobic digester to generate 4,480,286 kWh annually for sale to the grid. $1,174,500 in leveraged funds are committed to the project in addition to the grant.

Redtail Ridge Dairy of Malone will receive $225,268 for an anaerobic digester that will generate 1,289,471 kWh annually for sale to the grid. In addition, $675,803 in leveraged funds have been committed to the project.

Trillium Hill Farm of Berlin will receive $196,768 for an anaerobic digester to produce 886,512 kWh annually. $590,303 in leveraged funds have also been committed to the project.

Ecker Bros. of Chilton will receive $35,188 to install a small wind turbine to replace current energy use, with excess power to be sold to the grid. Leveraged funds of $105,562 are committed to the project.

"These grants are through the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program which was created as part of the 2002 Farm Bill. This year there are 167 recipients from 26 states receiving $22.8 million in competitive grants to support renewable energy efforts," Petri said.