A Rural Energy for America Program meeting recently took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at which a Rural Development official addressed the group's stakeholders about U.S. Department of Agriculture plans for the use of green energy.

"Our country is moving more and more toward renewable energy sources," said Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager. "Those of us at USDA want to stand up that renewable energy industry in America’s rural backyard, and we want to work with all of you to make it happen."

REAP grant recipient and Senior Vice President of American Coalition for Ethanol Ron V. Lamberty also addressed the group, giving his input on the U.S. ethanol industry.

Throughout the meeting, Tonsager stressed the importance of making rural America strong and sustainable in the upcoming years.

According to Farm Futures, the REAP program provides grants to farmers and rural small businesses in an effort to grow the amount of clean energy technologies in the United States, including biomass, wind and solar.

The source said Community Energy Partners President Sue Jones conducts REAP outreach in Maine, and has created more than $1 million in funding opportunities for renewable energy projects in the state.