STAKEHOLDER ANNOUCEMENT
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke today announced that USDA will begin accepting Letters of Interest (LOI) on July 31, 2023, from rural cooperatives seeking financial assistance to deploy renewable energy systems in rural America.
USDA is making $9.7 billion available in grants, loans, and loan modification under the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program to help rural cooperatives deploy renewable energy systems, zero-emission, and carbon capture systems.
Rural cooperatives, including current and previous USDA borrowers, must submit LOIs on or before 11:59 p.m., Sept. 15, 2023, via Grants.gov.
Rural cooperatives are encouraged to submit proposals as soon as they are ready. USDA will invite Applicants that score highest to submit a full application.
An application guide and an LOI template will be available to download at Empowering Rural America New ERA Program
For more information, see page 48429 of the July 27, 2023, Federal Register.
Background
The Biden-Harris Administration made this historic funding possible through the Inflation Reduction Act. The Administration championed the Inflation Reduction Act to help provide new funding and unprecedented incentives to expand clean energy, transform rural power production, create jobs and spur new opportunities for the people of rural America.
It is the largest single investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
In May, the Department announced $10.7 billion in funding available under the USDA Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) and New ERA programs. On July 10, the Department began accepting LOIs for the PACE program until Sept. 29, 2023.
For more information about the Inflation Reduction Act, visit Inflation Reduction Act.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit GovDelivery subscriber page.
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