[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Minnesota Department of Agriculture selects five renewable energy projects to receive NextGen Energy grants[/title][fusion_text]Thursday, July 9th 2015
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has selected five renewable energy projects to receive NextGen Energy grants. The grants are part of the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) program to help fund creative and emerging agricultural projects. These grant awards were specifically targeted at projects using woody biomass to replace propane as a heat source in regions of the state without access to natural gas. The purpose of the NextGen Grant Program is to expand and strengthen Minnesota’s commitment to the development of locally-owned and fueled renewable energy projects. Minnesota also aims to be a leading state in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Projects funded in this grant cycle: Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Cloquet, Minnesota – $150,000; Viking Company, Albany, Minnesota – $149,535; Whitewater Gardens Farm, Altura, Minnesota – $34,622; and Minnesota State University-Mankato, Mankato, Minnesota – $138,000; Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission, Grand Marais, Minnesota – $50,000. Projects were submitted for consideration by a technical team made up of members from five state agencies: Agriculture, Commerce, Natural Resources, Pollution Control, and Employment and Economic Development. This team scored each of the proposals separately under the guidelines detailed in the request for proposals of the NextGen grants. The results of this selection process were reviewed by the board on November 13, 2014 and recommendations were made to Commissioner Dave Frederickson. All projects required at least a 50-percent match from the grantee.
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