Carbondale Reporter

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) has revealed that 10 Southern Illinois counties have been awarded a total of $1.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The grants are aimed at bolstering rural energy in the region.

"Biofuels and renewable energy are key components to ensuring America's energy independence," said Bost. "Farmers in Southern Illinois have experienced increased uncertainty over the last two years, but grants like these are a crucial step in ensuring that biofuels remain a part of America's fuel supply. I support an 'all-of-the-above' approach to meeting our energy needs and will continue to fight for energy resilience and reliability in Southern Illinois."

Bost played a pivotal role in securing these grants by authoring a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, advocating for robust funding for rural energy programs. Thanks to his efforts, the funding for the REAP program has more than doubled from the previous year. This increased funding will enable small businesses and agricultural producers in rural areas to invest in renewable energy and efficiency improvements for their operations.

The REAP grants have been allocated to the following Southern Illinois counties: Clark, Clay, Gallatin, Hamilton, Richland, Saline, St. Clair, Union, Washington, and White. In addition to these grants, the USDA has also approved a $481,768 grant under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. This grant will be used to retrofit dispensers for E15 at fueling stations nationwide, including in Jefferson, Clark, and Williamson counties.

This news comes as a welcome development for the Southern Illinois region, which has been grappling with economic uncertainty. The grants provided by the USDA will not only support the growth of renewable energy but also stimulate the local economy by creating jobs and attracting investments.

For more information about the grants and the projects they will fund, please visit the official announcement on U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's website: [link](https://bost.house.gov/2023/11/bost-announces-rural-development-grants-for-southern-illinois)

To find out more, go to this link: https://bost.house.gov/2023/11/bost-announces-rural-development-grants-for-southern-illinois