Rural Energy for America Program

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides assistance to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of projects. Offering both loan guarantees and grants, REAP helps eligible applicants install renewable energy systems such as solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal heating systems or complete energy efficiency improvements such as grain dryers and flexible fuel pumps.

Additionally, grants are available to entities that will assist agricultural producers and small business conduct energy audits, develop renewable energy and complete feasibility studies.

The REAP program is comprised of the following components:

The Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loan and Grant Programprovides financial assistance to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.

The Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grant Program provides grant assistance to entities that will assist agriculture producers and rural small businesses by conducting energy audits and providing information on renewable energy assistance.

The Feasibility Studies Grant Program financially assists applicants that need to complete a feasibility study, which are required in applications for many of USDA’s and other government energy programs.

NOTE: The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for REAP was published on March 29, 2013.