“It’s a worthy investment:” USDA program helps lower energy costs for small businesses, agriculture producers

BRIDGEVILLE, Del.- Taking things people don’t want and making them useful: that’s the motto recycling and manufacturing operation Pallet Masters lives by. “There are zero wastes coming out of our facility including cardboard and plastic,” Stephens said.

Chief Executive Officer Todd Stephens said across their three facilities they produce up to 30 million pounds of recycled wood a year. They even do the grinding at their Bridgeville location, making wood fiber from that material. “Once we turned on the grinding operation in the Spring of 2020, our need shot up by a third. That made it even more necessary to actually have a solar operation,” Stephens said.

That’s where USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is stepping in. It offers loans and grants to small businesses and agriculture producers to support renewable and energy efficiency projects. “It helps us in our area be competitive with more urban areas, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, and reduces our energy costs,” USDA Rural Development State Director for Delaware and Maryland David Baker said.

$1.3 million dollars will support nine projects across Delaware, aimed at lowering energy costs for small businesses. Program funding also comes from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Pallet Masters will receive more than $139,000 in grant funding for the installation of a roof-solar system.

Stephens told 47ABC that the 444 solar modules will provide them upwards of 25% savings in energy costs.  “I’ve been told that we may even be able to generate an additional $1,000 of income from selling that power back to the system. It’s a worthy investment on our part,” he said. “We’re very happy with the fact that we’ve crossed that juncture and now it’s just a matter of getting this project installed.”

We’re told going solar will actually cover 100% of energy needs for Pallet Masters at their Bridgeville location. Stephens said depending on the success seen in Bridgeville, they’ll looking to expand their solar operations to their location in New Castle, Delaware. He added that their Landover, Maryland facility is already in the works to be solar powered.

Solair helped design and install Pallet Master’s system. Solair is a locally owned company that primarily serves Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. We’re told their systems have 25-year warranties by reputable companies on all major components.

Applications for the latest round of the REAP program are now open through September 30th.