SPRING MOUNT, Pa. — On Thursday, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small to Montgomery County to highlight clean energy investments in rural Pennsylvania communities made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. In Upper Salford Township, they toured Spring Mountain Adventures—a year-round outdoor adventure facility with skiing, ice skating, rock climbing—which received more than $670,000 through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
With this REAP grant, Spring Mountain Adventures will install 1,000 solar panels, expecting to save their small business $117,000 a year. Rick Buckman, who has owned and operated Spring Mountain Adventures for 23 years, led a tour of their facility. Congresswoman Dean and Deputy Secretary Torres Small were joined by Montgomery County Commissioners Jamila Winder and Neil Makhija, regional USDA partners, and other local leaders.
“The Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest investment in our climate in American history, and I’m thrilled to see its transformative opportunities realized right here in Montgomery County—including the Rural Energy for America Program,” Rep. Dean said. “I’m grateful to Rick Buckman of Spring Mountain Adventures for generously opening their doors to show us how these investments will make a difference for small businesses, rural communities, and our planet. And I was delighted to welcome USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small to our Commonwealth to share her expertise on how Pennsylvania can achieve a cleaner, greener future.”
"USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration are proud to partner with Representative Dean to support rural small businesses like Spring Mountain Adventures that are the backbone of rural communities. President Biden’s work to lower energy costs through USDA clean energy programs lets rural business owners in Pennsylvania and nationwide focus on what they do best: serving their customers and helping their communities thrive," Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small said.
To learn more about the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), visit the USDA’s website.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, wife, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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