Pinnacle Infrared a Provider of Energy Assessments for the USDA’s Rural Energy America Program in Kansas and Oklahoma

Independence, KS, May 14, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Pinnacle Infrared is approved to provide energy assessments for projects to be funded by the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The US Department of Agriculture is offering grant money to small businesses and agricultural producers to improve energy efficiency or install renewable energy systems. Pinnacle Infrared is a building diagnostics service company based in Independence, Kansas (www.PinnacleInfrared.com).

Pinnacle Infrared provides building diagnostic services in the areas of energy audits, moisture intrusion, infrared imaging, indoor air quality, and energy assessments according to the USDA’s protocol. The company is owned by Mark Easter, who is an Environmental Engineer and certified Energy Auditor. “The USDA’s REAP program is really a great deal,” states Mr. Easter. “The program offers a grant for small businesses and agriculture producers to increase energy efficiency or install renewable energy systems such as wind or solar. That’s right - free money for your business to increase energy efficiency. They also have a guaranteed loan program which can be used for up to 50% of the project costs. When the 25% grant is coupled with a guaranteed loan, a renewable energy or energy efficiency project could have as little as 25% out of pocket costs,” he concludes. The process starts with an assessment of the potential energy project by a USDA qualified assessor. The deadline is approaching fast for projects to be funded in 2010. The latest an application can be accepted by the USDA for funding this year is 30 Jun 2010. “There is still time to get energy improvements and renewable energy projects funded this year, but small businesses that would like this money need to act quickly.”

REAP is designed for rural small business and agriculture producers that install energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy systems for their current or new business. Grants can fund up to 25% of a project’s total eligible costs. Most rural projects that reduce energy use and result in savings for the small business or agricultural producer are eligible as energy efficiency projects. These include projects such as lighting upgrades, insulation, and more efficient heating or cooling units. Eligible renewable energy projects include projects that produce energy from wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.

To learn more about Pinnacle Infrared’s energy efficiency services, including the USDA’s REAP, please visit www.PinnacleInfrared.com or call 620-870-9398 (KS). For additional information regarding this and other USDA Rural Development programs, call the Agency’s Kansas office at 785-271-2700, or log onto the Agency’s website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks. For Oklahoma, call the Agency’s office at 405-742-1000.

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