SOPEC, Rural Action awarded USDA grant to support rural small businesses develop solar assets

11:00 AM: Welcome from Chloe Musick, SOPEC

11:02 AM: Formal Presentation of the REAP TAG grant

11:05 AM: Short presentation from Jonathan McCracken, USDA

11:10 AM: Short presentation from Luke Sulfridge, SOPEC

11:15 AM: Short presentation from Debbie Phillips, Rural Action

11:20 AM: Q&A Panel with RA, SOPEC, USDA

11:30 AM: Thank you and adjournment from Chloe Musick, SOPEC

For additional questions, please contact Chloe Musick, Director of Public Affairs and Marketing, SOPEC at cmusick@sopec-oh.gov.

Grant Program: USDA REAP TAG (Technical Assistance Grant)

Amount: $496,640.57

SOPEC Partner: Rural Action

This REAP TAG grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC), who will be partnering with Rural Action. Together they will leverage their existing networks and programs, including SOPEC’s Solar Access Pathways program, Rural Action’s Sustainable Agriculture Whole Farm Project, and Rural Action’s Sustainable Energy Pledge program, to identify interested rural small business and agricultural producer REAP applicants.

Interested applicants who qualify for a REAP grant from these programs will be offered tailored and appropriate technical assistance and grant support to help them successfully submit a strong REAP grant application for funding assistance. Additionally, SOPEC currently manages the only USDA Renewable Energy Development Assistance (REDA) solar program in the state of Ohio. The REAP TAG program will be incorporated into this program to offer REAP grant technical assistance and support for recommendations made in the solar assessment report clients receive from SOPEC’s REDA program.

This program will target REAP projects that request $20,000 or less in REAP program funding, REAP applicants in distressed and disadvantaged communities, and Ohio counties that have not previously had a REAP grant recipient. The program will be offered to all qualified applicants in the state of Ohio.

The REAP grant, as a reimbursement-based incentive, requires that applicants secure financing or have enough cash on-hand to fully pay for a Renewable Energy System (RES) or Energy Efficiency (EE) improvement project, which remains a primary barrier for accessing REAP grant support. Additionally, many small business owners and farmers have stated that they don’t have the time, resources or grant writing experience to apply for REAP funding for their renewable energy project. However, within the last year, the REAP grant has become more attractive for rural small businesses and agricultural producers thanks to new, robust federal investment that increased the base level of grant support from 25% of eligible project costs to 50%. Ultimately, REAP TAG will support both organizational and contractual staff at SOPEC and contractual staff at Rural Action to assist qualifying applicants in Ohio to apply for REAP funding by addressing the REAP preparation barrier and the need to secure preliminary funding.

Jonathan McCracken
Rural Development State Director for Ohio, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Most recently, Jonathan McCracken served as a Senior Advisor to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). For the past 15 years, he has held various legislative positions related to agriculture, rural development, food, nutrition, energy, and environmental policy. Prior to working for Senator Brown, McCracken began his career working for Senator Edward M. Kennedy. A native of Wilmington, Ohio, he is a graduate of Wake Forest University and earned a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

Luke Sulfridge, he/him
Executive Director, SOPEC

Luke Sulfridge has served as the Executive Director of Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council since 2019. Under Sulfridge’s leadership, SOPEC has grown from 10 to 35 members. SOPEC aggregation programs are estimated to have saved tens of millions against standard service offers in recent years while also being 100% green as a default. Sulfridge previously served as the Ohio Director for Solar United Neighbors. He has a BA in political science from Berea College, an MA in political science from Appalachian State University, and an MS in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University.

Debbie Phillips
Chief Executive Officer, Rural Action

Debbie Phillips was named as CEO of Rural Action in 2018, after having helped to grow the organization as its Development Director. She previously served as the area’s State Representative in the Ohio House from 2009-2016, until term limits kicked in. While in office, she served on the House Finance Committee, House Education Committee, House Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, the Joint Legislative Ethics Commission and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. Phillips is particularly proud of having successfully changed Ohio law to prevent schools from charging low-income students for the materials necessary for their participation. Phillips served as a member of Athens City Council from 2003-2008, when she was elected to the House. While on Council she chaired the Planning and Development Committee. She was the founding Executive Director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, which grew out of a program of Rural Action’s, the Community and School Connection, and focused on promoting quality public education for all K-12 students. Debbie is a graduate of Ohio University and lives near Albany.

Jonathan McCracken
“Today’s announcement ensures that Ohio farms and small businesses are at the forefront of the clean energy economy,’ McCracken said. ‘The Rural Energy for America Program helps farmers and small businesses lower energy costs, increase profitability, and create good paying jobs across the state. Ohio Rural Development has seen unprecedented demand for this program and with SOPEC and Rural Action partnering together to help promote the program, Appalachia Ohio will continue to benefit from this historic investment in Rural America.”

Luke Sulfridge

“SOPEC is proud to assist small businesses and farms in going solar. “

“Rural businesses across Ohio wil have free professional support in applying for grants.”

“Investigating going solar has never been easier for farms and small businesses.”

"We have been proud to collaborate with the USDA on expanding solar infrastructure across the state of Ohio through their Renewable Energy Development Assistance (REDA) solar program. REAP TAG will allow us to build upon that momentum as we continue to support the development of solar assets across the state."

"SOPEC is committed to both community engagement and environmental stewardship, so we are excited that the Rural Energy for America Program Technical Assistance Grant (REAP TAG) will enable us to continue to support Ohio communities reach their sustainability goals."

"The staff at SOPEC and our partners at Rural Action are excited to assist qualifying applicants in Ohio apply for REAP funding. We hope to remove as many barriers as possible to support rural small businesses as they explore their solar options."

Debbie Phillips
“Rural Action is so pleased to be able to offer this free grants assistance service to farmers and small businesses in Ohio’s rural communities. The energy projects USDA REAP funds can be game-changers for these folks, and we are here to help them through the process and beyond.”