Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

Rural Business—Cooperative Service Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for Inviting Applications for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans under the Rural Energy for America Program
AGENCY: Rural Business—Cooperative
Service, USDA.

SUMMARY: The Rural Energy for America Program, formerly section 9006 under the 2002 Farm Bill, is composed of several types of grants and guaranteed loan programs. These are: Guaranteed loans and grants for the development/ construction of renewable energy systems and for energy efficiency improvement projects; grants for conducting energy audits; grants for conducting renewable energy development assistance; and grants for conducting renewable energy feasibility studies.
The Agency is implementing the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2010 through the publication of three REAP notices:

• Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grants and guaranteed loans;
• Energy audit and renewable energy development assistance grants; and
• Renewable energy feasibility study grants.

This REAP notice announces that Rural Business—Cooperative Service is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2010 for the purchase of renewable energy systems and the making of energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. The amount of funds available for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements in FY 2010 will be approximately 88 percent of mandatory and discretionary funding. Funding will be available in the form of grants and loan guarantees. In addition to grants and loan guarantees, applicants may apply for combination loan guarantee and grant funding (combination package).

Lastly, the Agency intends to publish a proposed rule that will revise the current program at 7 CFR part 4280, subpart B to include renewable energy feasibility study grants, and that will add a new subpart C to address energy audit and renewable energy development assistance grants. Together, these two subparts will represent the Rural Energy for America Program as authorized under section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 as amended by section 9001 of the Food, Energy, and Conservation Act of 2008. The Agency anticipates publishing final regulations to operate the Rural Energy for America Program in fiscal year 2011.

DATES: Complete applications under this notice must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 local time June 30, 2010. Neither complete nor incomplete applications received after this date and time will be considered for funding in FY 2010, regardless of the postmark on the application.

ADDRESSES: Application materials may be obtained by contacting one of Rural Development’s Energy Coordinators or by downloading through http:// www.grants.gov.

Submit electronic applications at http://www.grants.gov, following the instructions found on this Web site. To use Grants.gov, all applicants (unless the applicant is an individual) must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at 1–866– 705–5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Submit completed paper applications to the Rural Development State Office in the State in which the applicant’s proposed project is located.

Shannon Legree, USDA Rural Development,
Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835
Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC
29201, (803) 253–3150,
Shannon.Legree@sc.usda.gov