The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for loan guarantees and grants to support renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement projects.
Eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses may apply for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements to their operations.
Eligible renewable energy systems include those that produce energy from wind, solar, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters), ocean, geothermal, and small hydroelectric sources, as well as hydrogen derived from renewable sources.
The deadlines to apply for grants are October 31, 2018, and April 1, 2019. Applications for loan guarantees are accepted year-round.
Applications for grants, or a combination of loan guarantees and grants, of $20,000 or less may be submitted under either deadline. Applications for unrestricted grants, or unrestricted loan guarantee and grant combinations, must be submitted by April 1, 2019.
To discuss a potential project, contact John Holman, Energy Coordinator, (503) 414-3369. Additional information is also available on page 40216 of the August 14, 2018, Federal Register.