BANGOR — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced grants for more than 900 agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations.

The grants are being provided through the Rural Energy for America Program, a 2008 Farm Bill initiative. REAP offers funds for farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements.

USDA Rural Development will invest $183,339 in eight Maine businesses, including:

* Bancroft Contracting Corporation in South Paris has been selected to receive $20,000 to assist in acquiring and installing energy-efficient lighting in the company’s main building and shop and for the replacement of its shop compressor with a new, energy-efficient model. Bancroft Contracting operates as a heavy construction contractor and employs 179 people. The grant leveraged $61,848 from the grantee, and the systems are expected to reduce company’s electricity consumption by 26 percent. Bancroft was also selected to receive $20,000 to assist in acquiring and installing a solar photovoltaic system. The system will convert solar energy directly into electricity. The grant leveraged $66,150 from the grantee, and the system is expected to offset nearly 20 percent of the company’s annual electricity consumption.

* Grant’s Bakery Inc. in Lewiston has been selected to receive $19,957 to assist in acquiring and installing a small solar photovoltaic system. The system converts solar energy directly into electricity. Grant’s Bakery is a full service retail bakery that employs eight people. The grant leveraged $69,877 from the grantee, and the system is expected to offset 6 percent of the company’s annual electricity consumption.

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