From ELPC:
Conceived in the 2002 Farm Bill, REAP [Rural Energy for America Program] is responsible for the development of thousands of new clean energy projects across rural America. Farmers and rural businesses are using REAP to build new clean energy projects for wind and solar power, biodiesel, anaerobic digesters and other biomass, geothermal, and energy-saving upgrades. REAP also helps rural electric cooperatives, ag extension offices and other non-profits to conduct energy technical assistance to assess rural clean energy needs. REAP is a strong success, with more than 3,500 clean energy project awards in 49 states since the program’s first year in 2003.
ELPC has calculated REAP’s job creation benefits at current and higher funding levels. Our analysis is based on employment data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for clean energy industries in combination with REAP project awards.
Our calculations show that REAP could create approximately 5,900 net jobs in the national economy each year at a funding level of $350 million a year. In other words, REAP produces nearly 17 jobs per $1 million of investment.
Read more here.