From our colleague Sarah Johnson Phillips:
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a Notice of Funding Available (NOFA) for up to $3,000,000 in renewable energy feasibility study grants under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
- The grants are available to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses for conducting feasibility studies for renewable energy systems.
- The maximum amount for a feasibility grant is $50,000 or 25 percent of the eligible project cost of the study (whichever is less). Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, resource assessment, transmission studies, and environmental studies.
- Applications are due to USDA Rural Development State Offices by October 5, 2010.
The REAP program also provides grants and loan guarantees to support renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements as well as energy audit and renewable energy development assistance grants. The REAP program is administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service
The full NOFA is available in today’s Federal Register (Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 151, 47525-47535, August 6, 2010).