Las Vegas, NM Business Latest to Be Honored for Installing Solar System

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 25 August 2015 25 August 2015

BTU 01 rsWayne Sonchar owner of B.T.U. Building Materials, Inc. (right) accepts a certificate of completion for the installation of a solar power array on his business from USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, August 25, 2015 - Earlier today, USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner presented Wayne Sonchar the owner of B.T.U. Materials, Inc. in Las Vegas, New Mexico a certificate of completion to dedicate the solar power system recently installed at the business.

While making his remarks during the event Brunner said, "I congratulate B.T.U. Building Materials for being a good example how a solar power system can provide huge savings for a small business." He added, "By installing this solar power system the business will get a huge break on the cost of energy and will recuperate its investment in a few years."

B.T.U. Materials Inc. received a $48,645 grant through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) administered by USDA Rural Development's Business Program. The financial support was used to offset the cost to install the solar panels that are now being used by B.T.U. Materials, Inc. With the REAP grant funding the total amount to install the solar power system amounted to $194,583. Now that the solar power system is operating, it supplies the majority of the electricity needed to run the business on a normal day.

REAP funding may be used by agricultural producers in both rural and non-rural settings. However, a small rural business's project must be located in a rural area of fewer than 50,000 inhabitants.

The REAP funding pays up to twenty-five percent of the cost to install a renewable energy system such as: bioenergy, flexible fuel pumps, solar (small and large), photovoltaic or geothermal, wind-(small and large), anaerobic digesters, geothermal-electric generation and direct use hydropower and hydrogen systems. Additionally, the program can also be used to offset the cost of installing energy efficiency improvements to a business ranch or farm such as the cost of replacing air conditioning, heating units and replacing diesel irrigation pumps with new efficient electric pumps.

For more information on how to qualify for the REAP funding program go to: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency or call the USDA Rural Development State Office at 505-761-4953.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.