Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 11 REAP RES EEI
Apply for RDBCP 11 REAP RES EEI
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture business and commerce energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "REAP Renewable Energy Systems and Enery Efficiency Improvements" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868 Rural Energy for America Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 9, 2011 and posted on May 9, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $70,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2,000 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are agricultural producers and rural small businesses. All agricultural producers, including farmers and ranchers, who gain 50 or more of their gross income from the agricultural operations are eligible. Small businesses that are located in a rural area can also apply. Rural electric cooperatives may also be eligible to apply. Additional Information on Eligibility Citizenship To be eligible, applicants must be individuals or entities at least 51 percent owned by persons who are either 1) citizens of the United States (U.S.),the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or American Samoa or 2) legally admitted permanent residents residing in the U.S. Project The project must be to conduct a feasibility study for a renewable energy system. Eligible technologies include projects that produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro power and hydrogen based sources. All projects must be located in a rural area and must be owned by the applicant. Legal authority and responsibility Each applicant must have, or obtain, the legal authority necessary to carry out the purpose of the grant.
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Opportunity Summary:
The REAP Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP 11 REAP RES EEI) is a mandatory, competitive grant program under the USDA Rural Development Business and Cooperative Programs portfolio, listed in CFDA 10.868 (Rural Energy for America Program). Its purpose is to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses cut energy costs and reduce overall energy consumption by supporting the installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, while also contributing to broader national energy goals. The program anticipates a large volume of awards (about 2,000), backed by an estimated total funding pool of $70,000,000, with individual awards capped at $500,000. Because awards are competitive, applicants are evaluated against other submissions rather than being funded automatically if they meet basic eligibility.
Eligible applicants are agricultural producers and rural small businesses, with eligibility rules that aim to ensure funding goes to operating agricultural enterprises and businesses in rural communities. Agricultural producers, including farmers and ranchers, qualify if they earn at least 50 percent of their gross income from agricultural operations. Rural small businesses can apply if they are located in a rural area. The notice also indicates that rural electric cooperatives may be eligible. In addition to organizational eligibility, the program includes ownership and citizenship/permanent residency requirements: applicants must be individuals or entities that are at least 51 percent owned by people who are U.S. citizens or citizens of certain affiliated jurisdictions (the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or American Samoa), or by individuals who are legally admitted permanent residents living in the United States. Applicants also must have, or be able to obtain, the legal authority necessary to carry out the grant-funded work, which is a common requirement for federal awards to ensure the recipient can sign contracts, secure site control, and otherwise execute the project responsibly.
Project eligibility in the source information emphasizes renewable energy feasibility work, stating that the project must be to conduct a feasibility study for a renewable energy system. The eligible renewable energy technologies listed include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and hydrogen-based sources. Projects must be located in a rural area and must be owned by the applicant, which means proposals generally need to show clear ownership and rural siting, not just an intent to partner with a third party that owns the asset. Although the opportunity is titled to include both renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, the provided eligibility language specifically highlights feasibility studies for renewable energy systems, so applicants typically would want to align proposals closely with what the notice explicitly describes and verify details in the full Program Notice.
This opportunity includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients should expect to contribute a portion of project costs from non-grant sources (such as cash, financing, or other allowable contributions), consistent with REAP program design. Key timing details from the announcement show it was posted and created on May 9, 2011, with an original and current closing date of June 15, 2011, and an archive date of July 15, 2011. For applicants or stakeholders needing help accessing the full announcement, the listed program contact is Anthony Ashby, Energy Specialist, at 202-720-0661.
REAP Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements (REAP RES/EEI) Grant FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements grant opportunity. It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP 11 REAP RES EEI and is listed under CFDA 10.868 (Rural Energy for America Program).
2) Is this grant competitive or first-come, first-served?
It is a mandatory, competitive grant program. Applications are reviewed and scored against other submissions, and funding is not automatic even if an applicant meets basic eligibility requirements.
3) What is the purpose of the program?
The purpose is to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses cut energy costs and reduce overall energy consumption by supporting renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. It also supports broader national energy goals.
4) How many awards are expected?
The program anticipates a large volume of awards, estimated at about 2,000.
5) How much total funding is expected to be available?
The estimated total funding pool is $70,000,000.
6) What is the maximum award amount?
Individual awards are capped at $500,000.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include agricultural producers and rural small businesses. The notice also indicates that rural electric cooperatives may be eligible.
8) How does an agricultural producer qualify under this opportunity?
Agricultural producers (including farmers and ranchers) qualify if they earn at least 50 percent of their gross income from agricultural operations.
9) How does a rural small business qualify under this opportunity?
A rural small business can apply if it is located in a rural area.
10) Are there ownership or citizenship/permanent residency requirements?
Yes. Applicants must be individuals or entities that are at least 51 percent owned by people who are:
- U.S. citizens, or
- Citizens of certain affiliated jurisdictions (the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or American Samoa), or
- Individuals legally admitted as permanent residents who live in the United States.
11) What does the program mean by having "legal authority" to carry out the work?
Applicants must have, or be able to obtain, the legal authority needed to complete the grant-funded work. This generally means the recipient must be able to sign contracts, secure site control as needed, and otherwise execute the project in a responsible and legally valid way.
12) What types of projects are eligible based on the provided description?
The project eligibility language provided emphasizes renewable energy feasibility work. Specifically, the project must be to conduct a feasibility study for a renewable energy system.
13) Which renewable energy technologies are mentioned as eligible?
The listed eligible renewable energy technologies include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and hydrogen-based sources.
14) Does the project have to be in a rural area?
Yes. Projects must be located in a rural area.
15) Does the applicant have to own the project?
Yes. Projects must be owned by the applicant. Applications should be prepared to show clear applicant ownership and rural siting, rather than only an intent to partner with a third party that owns the asset.
16) The title mentions energy efficiency improvements. Are those eligible here?
The opportunity title includes both renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, but the provided project eligibility language specifically highlights feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. Applicants typically should align proposals closely with what the notice explicitly describes and verify details in the full Program Notice.
17) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. This opportunity includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients should expect to contribute a portion of project costs from non-grant sources (such as cash, financing, or other allowable contributions), consistent with REAP program design.
18) When was the opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted and created on May 9, 2011.
19) What is the application deadline?
The original and current closing date listed is June 15, 2011.
20) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is July 15, 2011.
21) Who can be contacted for more information?
The listed program contact is Anthony Ashby, Energy Specialist, at 202-720-0661.
22) What does CFDA 10.868 refer to?
CFDA 10.868 is the program listing for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), under which this funding opportunity is offered.
23) What does it mean that this is a "mandatory" program?
In the provided description, the program is characterized as mandatory and competitive. The key practical takeaway for applicants is that awards are still competitive and decided based on evaluation against other applications.
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