The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the application deadline for REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) funding to May 31, 2013. The program offers both loan guarantees and grants for energy projects in rural areas, such as solar panels, anaerobic digesters, and energy audits. Contact your nearest USDA Rural Development Office to learn how to apply or visit the following links:

Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html

Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grant
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapEaReda.html

Feasibility Grant Program
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap_FeasibilityStudies.html

Sage Mountain Center has announced a series of five renewable energy workshops during April. The two-hour workshops will covers solar electricity, solar hot water, small wind generation, financing, rebates, and ways to sell power back to the power company. There will also be demonstration equipment, handouts, and time for questions and answers. See the schedule and locations at www.sagemountain.org/workshops/index.html.

Montana-based Sustainable Oils has been purchased by Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc., according to a report in the Billings Gazette. Sustainable Oils has worked to promote and research camelina as a biofuel and has a research facility in Bozeman. The company also has contracted Montana acreage for camelina. Read the full story at http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/bozeman-camelina-company-sells-to-global-holding-firm/article_562105cd-42ee-58cc-833c-c908cf6c5f5b.html.

In 2007, Montana had 22,500 acres planted in camelina, thought to be a promising biofuel crop. But by 2011, that figure fell to only 2,500 acres, largely due to high payouts for conventional crops, according to a report from the Billings Gazette. But things may be looking up: the U.S. EPA recently approved camelina oil as a low-carbon feed stock under the Renewable Fuel Standard, says the report, and biofuel producers are hopeful that this will increase camelina production once again. Read the full story at http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/for-montana-biofuel-it-s-not-easy-being-green/article_05db73ba-4092-5b9f-a16a-2c88b6a0387a.html.

Nationally recognized renewable energy trainer Roy Butler will conduct a small wind turbine installer training in Great Falls on March 19-21. The course will cover site considerations, wind resource assessments and energy production estimates, tower and turbine considerations, equipment assembly, maintenance and more for wind turbines under 100 kilowatts. The workshop is designed around a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) small wind installer task analysis and will provide participants with fundamental knowledge of how to properly site, specify, permit, install and maintain a residential small wind turbine. Read the full press release at www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=11799.