|
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
Rural Development is currently accepting applications for the Fiscal
Year 2011 Rural Energy for America Program. This program is designed to
provide grants and loan guarantees to farmers and rural small
for-profit businesses who wish to install energy efficiency
improvements or to install renewable energy systems. Renewable energy
systems can include solar electric, solar thermal, wind, geothermal,
biomass and anaerobic digestion systems. Energy efficiency improvement
systems can include lighting improvements, insulation, electric motor
replacements and other energy efficiency improvement projects as
outlined in the energy audit.
A new type of renewable energy system has been added to the listing of
eligible projects this year. The installation of blender pumps at
retail gasoline stations and convenience stores will be considered an
eligible project. This new project type was added in an effort to
further promote the use of ethanol in the rural areas of the country.
For Fiscal Year 2011, additional emphasis is being placed on projects
which are requesting less than $20,000. Congress has authorized a
specific budget allocation to fund these smaller projects which provide
energy efficiencies or can produce renewable energy for the applicant.
If you are considering a small project with a grant request of less
than $20,000, now would be the time to apply.
Grain dryer replacement projects which have been a major beneficiary of
the program in previous years, are receiving less emphasis in Fiscal
Year 2011. Since only dryers of similar size can be funded through this
program, an application with a proposed increase in dryer capacity may
result in a reduction in the grant request and award. These reviews
will be completed once an application for grant and/or loan guarantee
assistance is received.
If you are interested in pursuing a grant or loan guarantee for the
Rural Energy for America Program, please submit an application to the
address listed below at your earliest opportunity. Grant requests
received early in the fiscal year have generally fared better than
other applications.
I have included my information below should you have questions.
Marc Saluk, Director
Darke County Economic Development
622 South Broadway
Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-3250
msaluk@darkecounty.com
|
|
|
|
