Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program, 20943-20948 [2011-8456]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 72 / Thursday, April 14, 2011 / Notices
Dated: April 6, 2011.
Jeanne M. Higgins,
Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest.
20943
[FR Doc. 2011–9095 Filed 4–13–11; 8:45 am]
the SUPPLEMENTARY
addresses concerning
applications for the Rural Energy for
America Program for Fiscal Year 2011
funds.
Alaska
Chad Stovall, USDA Rural
Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite
201, Palmer, AK 99645–6539, (907)
761–7718, chad.stovall@ak.usda.gov.
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For
information about this Notice, please
contact Mr. Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief,
USDA Rural Development, Energy
Division, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250. Telephone:
(202) 720–6819. E-mail:
kelley.oehler@wdc.usda.gov.
For further information on this
program, please contact the applicable
USDA Rural Development Energy
Coordinator for your respective State, as
provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
American Samoa (See Hawaii)
ADDRESSES: See
INFORMATION for
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA)
Inviting Applications for the Rural
Energy for America Program
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
AGENCY:
This Notice announces the
acceptance of applications for funds
available under the Rural Energy for
America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year
2011 for financial assistance as follows:
grants, guaranteed loans, and combined
grants and guaranteed loans for the
development and construction of
renewable energy systems and for
energy efficiency improvement projects;
grants for conducting energy audits;
grants for conducting renewable energy
development assistance; and grants for
conducting renewable energy system
feasibility studies. The Notice also
announces the availability of $70
million of Fiscal Year 2011 budget
authority to fund these REAP activities,
which will support at least $42 million
in grant program level and up to $61
million in guaranteed loan program
level. If additional funding becomes
available by a Fiscal Year 2011
Appropriations Act, a subsequent NOFA
will be published in the Federal
Register.
SUMMARY:
In order to be considered for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds, complete
applications under this Notice must be
received by the appropriate USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time of the dates as
follows:
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement grant
applications and combination grant and
guaranteed loan applications: June 15,
2011.
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: June
15, 2011.
For renewable energy system
feasibility study applications: June 30,
2011.
For energy audits and renewable
energy development assistance
applications: June 30, 2011.
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DATES:
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Fiscal Year 2011 Applications for the
Rural Energy for America Program
Applications. Application materials
may be obtained by contacting one of
Rural Development’s Energy
Coordinators. In addition, for grant
applications, applicants may access the
electronic grant application for the
Rural Energy for America Program at
https://www.Grants.gov. To locate the
downloadable application package for
this program, the applicant must use the
program’s Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number 10.868 or
FedGrants Funding Opportunity
Number, which can be found at https://
www.Grants.gov.
Application submittal. For renewable
energy system, energy efficiency
improvement, and feasibility study
applications, submit complete paper
applications to the Rural Development
State Office in the State in which the
applicant’s proposed project is located.
For energy audit and renewable energy
development assistance applications,
submit complete paper applications to
the Rural Development State Office in
the State in which the applicant’s
principal office is located.
Submit electronic grant only
applications at https://www.grants.gov,
following the instructions found on this
Web site.
Rural Development Energy
Coordinators
Arizona
Alan Watt, USDA Rural Development,
230 North First Avenue, Suite 206,
Phoenix, AZ 85003–1706, (602) 280–
8769, Alan.Watt@az.usda.gov.
Arkansas
Tim Smith, USDA Rural
Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue,
Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201–
3225, (501) 301–3280,
Tim.Smith@ar.usda.gov.
California
Philip Brown, USDA Rural
Development, 430 G Street, #4169,
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792–5811,
Phil.brown@ca.usda.gov.
Colorado
Jerry Tamlin, USDA Rural
Development, 655 Parfet Street, Room
E–100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544–
2907, Jerry.Tamlin@co.usda.gov.
Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands-CNMI (See Hawaii)
Connecticut (see Massachusetts)
Delaware/Maryland
Bruce Weaver, USDA Rural
Development, 1221 College Park Drive,
Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857–
3626, Bruce.Weaver@de.usda.gov.
Federated States of Micronesia (See
Hawaii)
Florida/Virgin Islands
Matthew Wooten, USDA Rural
Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place,
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338–3486,
Matthew.wooten@fl.usda.gov.
Georgia
J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural
Development, 111 E. Spring St., Suite B,
Monroe, GA 30655, Phone 770–267–
1413 ext. 113,
craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov.
Guam (See Hawaii)
Alabama
Hawaii/Guam/Republic of Palau/
Federated States of Micronesia/Republic
of the Marshall Islands/American
Samoa/Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands—CNMI
Quinton Harris, USDA Rural
Development, Sterling Centre, Suite
601, 4121 Carmichael Road,
Montgomery, AL 36106–3683, (334)
279–3623, Quinton.Harris@al.usda.gov.
Tim O’Connell, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
311, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI
96720, (808) 933–8313,
Tim.Oconnell@hi.usda.gov.
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not
toll-free.
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Minnesota
Lisa L. Noty, USDA Rural
Development, 1400 West Main Street,
Albert Lea, MN 56007, (507) 373–7960
Ext. 120, lisa.noty@mn.usda.gov.
Idaho
Brian Buch, USDA Rural
Development, 9173 W. Barnes Drive,
Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378–
5623, Brian.Buch@id.usda.gov.
Mississippi
G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Suite
831, 100 West Capitol Street, Jackson,
MS 39269, (601) 965–5457,
george.jones@ms.usda.gov.
Illinois
Molly Hammond, USDA Rural
Development, 2118 West Park Court,
Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217)
403–6210,
Molly.Hammond@il.usda.gov.
Indiana
Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development,
5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis,
IN 46278, (812) 346–3411, Ext. 126,
Jerry.Hay@in.usda.gov.
Iowa
Teresa Bomhoff, USDA Rural
Development, 873 Federal Building, 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309,
(515) 284–4447,
teresa.bomhoff@ia.usda.gov.
Kansas
David Kramer, USDA Rural
Development, 1303 SW. First American
Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604–
4040, (785) 271–2730,
david.kramer@ks.usda.gov.
Kentucky
Scott Maas, USDA Rural
Development, 771 Corporate Drive,
Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859)
224–7435, scott.maas@ky.usda.gov.
Louisiana
Kevin Boone, USDA Rural
Development, 905 Jefferson Street, Suite
320, Lafayette, LA 70501, (337) 262–
6601, Ext. 133,
Kevin.Boone@la.usda.gov.
Maine
John F. Sheehan, USDA Rural
Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite
4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402–
0405, (207) 990–9168,
john.sheehan@me.usda.gov.
Maryland (see Delaware)
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Massachusetts/Rhode Island/
Connecticut
Charles W. Dubuc, USDA Rural
Development, 451 West Street, Suite 2,
Amherst, MA 01002, (401) 826–0842 x
306, Charles.Dubuc@ma.usda.gov.
Michigan
Traci J. Smith, USDA Rural
Development, 3001 Coolidge Road,
Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517)
324–5157, Traci.Smith@mi.usda.gov.
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Missouri
Matt Moore, USDA Rural
Development, 601 Business Loop 70
West, Parkade Center, Suite 235,
Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876–9321,
matt.moore@mo.usda.gov.
Montana
Michael Drewiske, USDA Rural
Development, 2229 Boot Hill Court,
Bozeman, MT 59715–7914, (406) 585–
2554, Michael.drewiske@mt.usda.gov.
Nebraska
Debra Yocum, USDA Rural
Development, 100 Centennial Mall
North, Room 152, Federal Building,
Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437–5554,
Debra.Yocum@ne.usda.gov.
Nevada
Mark Williams, USDA Rural
Development, 1390 South Curry Street,
Carson City, NV 89703, (775) 887–1222,
mark.williams@nv.usda.gov.
New Hampshire (See Vermont)
New Jersey
Victoria Fekete, USDA Rural
Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th
Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ
08054, (856) 787–7752,
Victoria.Fekete@nj.usda.gov.
New Mexico
Jesse Bopp, USDA Rural
Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE.,
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109,
(505) 761–4952,
Jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov.
New York
Scott Collins, USDA Rural
Development, 9025 River Road, Marcy,
NY 13403, (315) 736–3316 Ext. 4,
scott.collins@ny.usda.gov.
North Carolina
David Thigpen, USDA Rural
Development, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, 919–873–2065,
David.Thigpen@nc.usda.gov.
North Dakota
Dennis Rodin, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
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208, 220 East Rosser Avenue, P.O. Box
1737, Bismarck, ND 58502–1737, (701)
530–2068, Dennis.Rodin@nd.usda.gov.
Ohio
Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
507, 200 North High Street, Columbus,
OH 43215–2418, (614) 255–2424,
Randy.Monhemius@oh.usda.gov.
Oklahoma
Jody Harris, USDA Rural
Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108,
Stillwater, OK 74074–2654, (405) 742–
1036, Jody.harris@ok.usda.gov.
Oregon
Don Hollis, USDA Rural
Development, 200 SE. Hailey Ave, Suite
105, Pendleton, OR 97801, (541) 278–
8049, Ext. 129, Don.Hollis@or.usda.gov.
Pennsylvania
Bob Schoenfeldt, USDA Rural
Development, 14699 North Main Street
Ext., Meadville, PA 16335, (814) 336–
6155, Ext. 114,
robert.schoenfeldt@pa.usda.gov.
Puerto Rico
Luis Garcia, USDA Rural
Development, IBM Building, 654 Munoz
Rivera Avenue, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR
00918–6106, (787) 766–5091, Ext. 251,
Luis.Garcia@pr.usda.gov.
Republic of Palau (See Hawaii)
Republic of the Marshall Islands (See
Hawaii)
Rhode Island (see Massachusetts)
South Carolina
Shannon Legree, USDA Rural
Development, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room
1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 253–
3150, Shannon.Legree@sc.usda.gov.
South Dakota
Kenneth Lynch, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
210, 200 4th Street, SW., Huron, SD
57350, (605) 352–1120,
ken.lynch@sd.usda.gov.
Tennessee
Will Dodson, USDA Rural
Development, 3322 West End Avenue,
Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37203–1084,
(615) 783–1350,
will.dodson@tn.usda.gov.
Texas
Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development,
Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South
Main Street, Temple, TX 76501, (254)
742–9775, billy.curb@tx.usda.gov.
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Utah
Roger Koon, USDA Rural
Development, Wallace F. Bennett
Federal Building, 125 South State
Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT
84138, (801) 524–4301,
Roger.Koon@ut.usda.gov.
Vermont/New Hampshire
Cheryl Ducharme, USDA Rural
Development, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor,
Montpelier, VT 05602, 802–828–6083,
cheryl.ducharme@vt.usda.gov.
Virginia
Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural
Development, Culpeper Building, Suite
238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond,
VA 23229, (804) 287–1594,
Laurette.Tucker@va.usda.gov.
Virgin Islands (see Florida)
Washington
Mary Traxler, USDA Rural
Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd.
SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360)
704–7762, Mary.Traxler@wa.usda.gov.
West Virginia
Richard E. Satterfield, USDA Rural
Development, 75 High Street, Room 320,
Morgantown, WV 26505–7500, (304)
284–4874,
Richard.Satterfield@wv.usda.gov.
Wisconsin
Brenda Heinen, USDA Rural
Development, 4949 Kirschling Court,
Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345–
7615, Ext. 139,
Brenda.Heinen@wi.usda.gov.
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Wyoming
Jon Crabtree, USDA Rural
Development, Dick Cheney Federal
Building, 100 East B Street, Room 1005,
P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602,
(307) 233–6719,
Jon.Crabtree@wy.usda.gov.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the information
collection requirements associated with
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement grants and
guaranteed loans, as covered in this
Notice, has been approved by the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570–0050.
The information collection requirements
associated with energy audit and
renewable energy development
assistance grants and with renewable
energy feasibility study grants have also
been approved by OMB under OMB
Control Number 0570–0059 and OMB
Control Number 0570–0061,
respectively.
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Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural
Business-Cooperative Service.
Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy
for America Program.
Announcement Type: Initial
announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number. 10.868.
Dates: Grant applications and
combined grant and guaranteed loan
applications for renewable energy
systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects under this Notice
will be accepted up to June 15, 2011.
Guaranteed loan only applications for
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement projects will be
accepted on a continuous basis, but to
compete for FY 2011 funding, complete
applications must be submitted to the
Agency by June 15, 2011. Applications
for renewable energy feasibility studies,
energy audits, and renewable energy
development assistance grants will be
accepted up to June 30, 2011.
For all applications submitted under
this Notice, complete applications must
be received by the appropriate USDA
Rural Development State Office no later
than 4:30 p.m. local time of the
applicable application deadline date in
order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2011 funds. Any application received
after its applicable date and time,
regardless of the postmark on the
application, will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
Availability of Notice. This Notice for
the Rural Energy for America Program is
available on the USDA Rural
Development Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/
index.html.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose of the Rural Energy for
America Program. This Notice is issued
pursuant to section 9001 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(2008 Farm Bill), which amends Title IX
of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill)
and establishes the Rural Energy for
America Program under section 9007
thereof. The program is designed to help
agricultural producers and rural small
businesses reduce energy costs and
consumption and help meet the
Nation’s critical energy needs.
B. Statutory Authority. This program
is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 8107.
C. Definition of Terms. The
definitions applicable to this Notice are
published at 7 CFR 4280.103. In
addition, the following definition of
‘‘hybrid’’ applies to this Notice.
Hybrid. A combination of two or more
renewable energy technologies that are
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incorporated into a unified system to
support a single project.
II. Award Information
A. Available funds: The amount of
grant funds available for energy audits
and renewable energy development
assistance in Fiscal Year 2011 is
approximately $2.8 million. The amount
of grant funds available for renewable
energy system feasibility studies in
Fiscal Year 2011 is $2.0 million. The
budget authority available for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects in Fiscal Year
2011 is $51.2 million. For renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects only, there will
be an allocation of funds to each State,
and the Rural Development’s National
Office will maintain a reserve of funds.
In order to ensure that small projects
have a fair opportunity to compete for
the funding and are consistent with the
priorities set forth in the statute, the
Agency will set-aside $14 million of the
$70 million budget authority available
to fund grants of $20,000 or less.
B. Approximate number of awards:
The number of awards will depend on
the number of eligible applicants
participating in this program.
C. State and National competitions.
Renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement applications for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds will compete for
funds allocated to their State (State
competition) as described under the
competition deadline in this Notice. All
unfunded eligible State applications
will be competed against other
applications from other States at a final
National competition. Separate
competitions will be held on guaranteed
loan only applications and on grant only
and grant and guaranteed loan
combination applications for both State
and National competitions. If funds
remain after the National guaranteed
loan only application competition, the
Agency may elect to utilize budget
authority to fund additional grant only
and grant and guaranteed loan
combination applications in the
National competition.
D. Type of instrument. Grant,
guaranteed loan, and grant/guaranteed
loan combinations.
E. Funding limitations. The following
funding limitations apply to
applications submitted under to this
Notice.
(1) Maximum grant assistance to an
individual or entity. For the purposes of
this Notice, the maximum amount of
grant assistance to one individual or
entity will not exceed $750,000 for
Fiscal Year 2011 based on the total
amount of renewable energy system,
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energy efficiency improvement, and
renewable energy feasibility study
grants awarded to the individual or
entity under the Rural Energy for
America Program.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency
funding. The 2008 Farm Bill mandates
the maximum percentages of funding
that USDA Rural Development will
provide. Within the maximum funding
amounts specified in this Notice,
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement funding
approved for guaranteed loan only
requests and for combination
guaranteed loan and grant requests will
not exceed 75 percent of eligible project
costs, with the grant portion not to
exceed 25 percent of total eligible
project costs, whether the grant is part
of a combination request or is a standalone grant.
(3) Reallocation of grants funds.
Based on the quality of the applications
received under this Notice and subject
to statutory limitations, the Agency
reserves the right, at its discretion, to
move funds among the various grant
allocations identified under Section
II.A. of this Notice.
(4) Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement grantonly applications. For renewable energy
system grants, the minimum grant is
$2,500 and the maximum is $500,000.
For energy efficiency improvement
grants, the minimum grant is $1,500 and
the maximum grant is $250,000.
(5) Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement loan
guarantee-only applications. For
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement loan guarantees,
the minimum guaranteed loan amount
is $5,000 and the maximum amount of
a guarantee to be provided to a borrower
is $25 million.
(6) Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan and grant combination
applications. Funding for grant and loan
combination packages for renewable
energy systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects are subject to the
funding limitations specified in Section
II.E.(2). The maximum amount for the
grant portion is $500,000 for renewable
energy systems and $250,000 for energy
efficiency improvements. The minimum
amount of the grant portion is $1,500 for
either renewable energy systems or
energy efficiency improvements. For the
guarantee portion, the maximum
amount is $25 million and the
minimum amount is $5,000.
(7) Renewable energy system
feasibility study grant applications. The
maximum amount of grant funds that
will be made available for an eligible
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feasibility study project under this
subpart to any one recipient will not
exceed $50,000 or 25 percent of the total
eligible project cost of the study,
whichever is less.
(8) Energy audit and renewable energy
development assistance grant
applications. The maximum aggregate
amount of energy audit and renewable
energy development assistance grants
awarded to any one recipient under this
Notice cannot exceed $100,000. In
addition, the 2008 Farm Bill mandates
that the recipient of a grant that
conducts an energy audit for an
agricultural producer or a rural small
business require the agricultural
producer or rural small business to pay
at least 25 percent of the cost of the
energy audit, which shall be retained by
the eligible entity for the cost of the
audit.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible applicants. To be eligible
for this program, an applicant must
meet the eligibility requirements
specified in 7 CFR 4280.109, 7 CFR
4280.110(c), and, as applicable, 7 CFR
4280.112, 7 CFR 4280.122, 7 CFR
4280.170, or 7 CFR 4280.186.
B. Eligible lenders. To be eligible for
this program, lenders must meet the
eligibility requirements in 7 CFR
4280.130.
C. Eligible projects. To be eligible for
this program, a project must meet the
eligibility requirements specified in 7
CFR 4280.113, 7 CFR 4280.123, 7 CFR
4280.171, and 7 CFR 4280.187, as
applicable.
IV. Fiscal Year 2011 Application and
Submission Information
Applicants seeking to participate in
this program must submit applications
in accordance with this Notice and 7
CFR part 4280, subpart B, as applicable.
Applicants must submit complete
applications in order to be considered.
A. Where To Obtain Applications
Applicants may obtain applications
from any USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the
ADDRESSES section of this Notice. In
addition, for grant applications,
applicants may access the electronic
grant application for the Rural Energy
for America Program at https://
www.Grants.gov. To locate the
downloadable application package for
this program, the applicant must use the
program’s CFDA Number 10.868 or
FedGrants Funding Opportunity
Number, which can be found at https://
www.Grants.gov.
When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
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submitting an application electronically
through the site. To use Grants.gov, all
applicants must have a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number (unless the
applicant is an individual), which can
be obtained at no cost via a toll-free
request line at 1–866–705–5711 or
online at https://fedgov.dnb.com/
webform. USDA Rural Development
strongly recommends that applicants do
not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the application process
through Grants.gov.
B. When To Submit
Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Grant and
Combined Grant and Guaranteed Loan
Applications. Grant applications and
combined grant and guaranteed loan
applications for renewable energy
systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects under this Notice
will be accepted up to June 15, 2011.
Complete applications under this Notice
must be received by the appropriate
USDA Rural Development State Office
no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on
June 15, 2011, in order to be considered
for Fiscal Year 2011 funds. Any
application received after this date and
time, regardless of the postmark on the
application, will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed
Loan Only Applications. Guaranteed
loan only applications for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects will be accepted
on a continuous basis, but to be
considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds,
complete applications must be received
by the appropriate USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time on June 15, 2011.
Any application received after this date
and time, regardless of the postmark on
the application, will be considered for
Fiscal Year 2012 funds.
Renewable Energy System Feasibility
Study Applications. Applications for
RES feasibility study grants under this
Notice will be accepted up to June 30,
2011. Complete applications under this
Notice must be received at the
appropriate State Office by 4:30 p.m.
local time on June 30, 2011, in order to
be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds. Any application received after
this date and time, regardless of the
application’s postmark, will not be
considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
Energy Audits and Renewable Energy
Development Assistance Applications.
Applications for EA and REDA grants
under this Notice will be accepted up to
June 30, 2011. Complete applications
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under this Notice must be received at
the appropriate State Office by 4:30 p.m.
local time on June 30, 2011, in order to
be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds. Any application received after
this date and time, regardless of the
application’s postmark, will not be
considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
C. Where To Submit
All renewable energy system, energy
efficiency improvement, and renewable
energy system feasibility study
applications are to be submitted to the
USDA Rural Development Energy
Coordinator in the State in which the
applicant’s proposed project is located.
All energy audit and renewable energy
development assistance applications are
to be submitted to the USDA Rural
Development Energy Coordinator in the
State in which the applicant’s principal
office is located. A list of USDA Rural
Development Energy Coordinators is
provided in the ADDRESSES section of
this Notice. Alternatively, for grant only
applications, applicants may submit
their electronic applications to the
Agency via the Grants.gov Web site.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
D. How To Submit
Applicants may submit their
applications either as hard copy or
electronically as specified in the
following paragraphs. When submitting
an application as hard copy, applicants
must submit one original and one copy
of the complete application.
(1) Grant applications. All grant
applications may be submitted either as
hard copy to the appropriate Rural
Development Energy Coordinator or
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Web site. Users of
Grants.gov who download a copy of the
application package may complete it off
line and then upload and submit the
application via the Grants.gov site,
including all information typically
included on the application, and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
After electronically submitting an
application through the Web site, the
applicant will receive an automated
acknowledgement from Grants.gov that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
(2) Guaranteed loan applications.
Guaranteed loan only applications (i.e.,
those that are not part of a guaranteed
loan/grant combination request) must be
submitted as hard copy.
(3) Guaranteed loan/grant
combination applications. Applications
for guaranteed loans/grants
(combination applications) must be
submitted as hard copy.
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E. Other Submission Requirements and
Information
for the wind turbines in the same fiscal
year.
(1) Application restrictions.
Applicants may apply for only one
renewable energy system project and
one energy efficiency improvement
project in Fiscal Year 2011. A renewable
energy system application cannot be
submitted in Fiscal Year 2011 if a REAP
feasibility study grant application for
the same renewable energy system is
submitted in Fiscal Year 2011 and vice
versa.
Applicants may apply for only one
renewable energy system feasibility
study grant under this Notice for Fiscal
Year 2011 funds.
Applicants may only submit one
energy audit grant application and one
renewable energy development
assistance grant application for Fiscal
Year 2011 funds.
(2) Environmental information. For
the Agency to consider an application,
the application must include all
environmental review documents with
supporting documentation in
accordance with 7 CFR part 1940,
subpart G. Applications for financial
assistance for planning purposes or
management and feasibility studies are
typically categorically excluded from
the environmental review process by 7
CFR 1940.310(e)(1).
(3) Original signatures. USDA Rural
Development may request that the
applicant provide original signatures on
forms submitted through Grants.gov at a
later date.
(4) Award considerations. In
determining the amount of a renewable
energy system or energy efficiency
improvement grant or loan guarantee,
the Agency will consider the six criteria
specified in 7 CFR 4280.115(g) or 7 CFR
4280.124(f), as applicable.
(5) Hybrid projects. If the application
is for a hybrid project, technical reports,
as required under 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(7),
must be prepared for each technology
that comprises the hybrid project.
(6) Multiple facilities. Applicants may
submit a single application that
proposes to apply the same renewable
energy system (including the same
hybrid project) or energy efficiency
improvement across multiple facilities.
For example, a rural small business
owner owns five retail stores and wishes
to install solar panels on each store. The
rural small business owner may submit
a single application for installing the
solar panels on the five stores. However,
if this same owner wishes to install
solar panels on three of the five stores
and wind turbines for the other two
stores, the owner can only submit an
application for either the solar panels or
V. Program Provisions
This section of the Notice identifies
the provisions of the interim rule
applicable to each type of funding
available under REAP.
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
A. General
The provisions specified in 7 CFR
4280.101 through 4280.111 apply to this
Notice.
B. Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Project Grants
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.112 through 4820.121
apply to renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement projects
grants.
C. Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Project
Guaranteed Loans
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.122 through 4820.160
apply to guaranteed loans for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year
2011, the guarantee fee amount is 1
percent of the guaranteed portion of the
loan and the annual renewal fee is 0.250
percent (one-quarter of one percent) of
the guaranteed portion of the loan.
D. Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Project Grant
and Guaranteed Loan Combined
Requests
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.165 apply to a combined
grant and guaranteed loan for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects.
E. Renewable Energy System Feasibility
Study Grants
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.170 through 4820.182
apply to renewable energy system
feasibility study grants.
F. Energy Audit and Renewable Energy
Development Assistance Grants
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.186 through 4820.196
apply to energy audit and renewable
energy development assistance grants.
G. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2010
Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
If an applicant or lender submitted an
application for funding in Fiscal Year
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14APN1
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20948
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 72 / Thursday, April 14, 2011 / Notices
2010 and that application was
determined eligible but was not funded,
the Agency will consider that Fiscal
Year 2010 application for funding in
Fiscal Year 2011 as provided in this
section.
(1) Written request. An applicant or
lender must submit a written request for
the Agency to consider its Fiscal Year
2010 application for Fiscal Year 2011
funds. For a guarantee loan and grant
combination application, both the
lender and applicant must submit the
written request to the Agency in order
to be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds.
(i) Except for simplified applications,
applicants must provide current
financial statements that meet the
program requirements outlined in 7 CFR
4280.116(b)(4) with the written request.
(ii) Written requests to consider Fiscal
Year 2010 applications for Fiscal Year
2011 funds may be submitted at any
time during Fiscal Year 2011 up to and
including 4:30 pm local time on June
15, 2011, to be considered for Fiscal
Year 2011 funds. Written requests
received after this time and date will not
be accepted by the Agency and the
applicant’s Fiscal Year 2010 application
will not be considered for Fiscal Year
2011 funds.
(2) Revisions to Fiscal Year 2010
applications. If an applicant makes any
revision to its Fiscal Year 2010
application that are not necessitated by
the REAP interim rule, a new
application meeting the requirements of
this Notice must be submitted in order
to be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds and a new date the complete
application was received will be
recorded. However, if a revision to the
Fiscal Year 2010 application is
necessitated by the REAP interim rule or
the Agency requests an update of
information in the original application
(for example, required current financial
statements), there will be no change in
the date the complete application was
received.
(3) No revisions to Fiscal Year 2010
applications. If an applicant does not
plan to make any revisions to its Fiscal
Year 2010 application, a new
application is not required and the date
the complete application was received
remains unchanged from its original
Fiscal Year 2010 receipt date.
H. Award Process. In addition to the
process for awarding funding under 7
CFR 4280, subpart B, the Agency will
make awards using the following
considerations:
(1) Funding renewable energy system
and energy efficiency improvement
grant and grant/guaranteed loan
awards. Considering the availability of
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18:34 Apr 13, 2011
Jkt 223001
funds, the Agency will fund those grant
only applications and grant/guaranteed
loan applications that score the highest
based on the grant score of the
application; that is, the grant score an
application receives will be compared to
the grant scores of other applications,
with higher scoring applications
receiving first consideration for funding.
(2) Guaranteed loan only awards.
Considering the availability of funds,
the Agency will fund those guaranteed
loan only applications that score the
highest compared to the scores of other
applications, with higher scoring
applications receiving first
consideration for funding.
(3) Evaluation criteria. Agency
personnel will score each application
based on the evaluation criteria
specified in 7 CFR 4280.117(c), 7 CFR
4280.129(c), 7 CFR 4280.178, or 7 CFR
4280.192, as applicable.
For hybrid applications, each
technical report will be evaluated and
scored based on its own merit. The
scores for the technologies will be
consolidated using a weighted average
approach based on the percentage of the
cost for each system to the total project
cost.
Example: A hybrid project contains a
wind and solar photovoltaic
components. The wind system will cost
the $30,000 (75 percent of total eligible
project cost) and the solar will cost
$10,000 (25 percent of total eligible
project cost). The wind technical report
was evaluated and assigned a total score
of 22 points, while the solar report was
evaluated and assigned a total score of
31 points. In this scenario, the final
technical score would be assigned as
follows: (22 × 75 percent) + (31 × 25
percent) = 24.25.
(4) Applications that receive the same
score. If applications score the same and
if remaining funds are insufficient to
fund each such application, the Agency
will distribute the remaining funds to
each such application on a pro-rata
basis.
to the National Appeals Division in
accordance with 7 CFR 4280.105.
(3) Conflict of interest. The provisions
of 7 CFR 4280.106 apply to this Notice.
(4) USDA Departmental Regulations
and other laws that contains other
compliance requirements. The
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.107 and 7 CFR
4280.108 apply to this Notice.
VI. Administration Information
Bureau of Industry and Security
A. Notifications
(1) Applicants. The notification
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.111 apply to
this Notice.
(2) Lenders. The notification
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.129(a) apply
to this Notice.
Sensors and Instrumentation
Technical Advisory Committee; Notice
of Partially Closed Meeting
B. Administrative and National Policy
requirements
(1) Exception authority. The
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.104 apply to
this Notice.
(2) Appeals. A person may seek a
review of an Agency decision or appeal
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
VII. Agency Contacts
For assistance on this program, please
contact a USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the
Addresses section of this Notice.
VIII. Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex,
marital status, familial status, parental
status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of
program information (Braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–
2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination
write to USDA, Director, Office of
Adjudication and Compliance, 1400
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call
(800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–
6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider, employer, and
lender.
Dated: April 1, 2011.
Dallas Tonsager,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2011–8456 Filed 4–13–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
The Sensors and Instrumentation
Technical Advisory Committee (SITAC)
will meet on May 3, 2011, 9:30 a.m., in
the Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room
3884, 14th Street between Constitution
and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW.,
Washington, DC. The Committee
advises the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Export Administration on
technical questions that affect the level
of export controls applicable to sensors
E:\FR\FM\14APN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20943-20948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8456]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the
Rural Energy for America Program
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice announces the acceptance of applications for funds
available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal
Year 2011 for financial assistance as follows: grants, guaranteed
loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for the development and
construction of renewable energy systems and for energy efficiency
improvement projects; grants for conducting energy audits; grants for
conducting renewable energy development assistance; and grants for
conducting renewable energy system feasibility studies. The Notice also
announces the availability of $70 million of Fiscal Year 2011 budget
authority to fund these REAP activities, which will support at least
$42 million in grant program level and up to $61 million in guaranteed
loan program level. If additional funding becomes available by a Fiscal
Year 2011 Appropriations Act, a subsequent NOFA will be published in
the Federal Register.
DATES: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds, complete
applications under this Notice must be received by the appropriate USDA
Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time of
the dates as follows:
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant
applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications:
June 15, 2011.
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: June 15, 2011.
For renewable energy system feasibility study applications: June
30, 2011.
For energy audits and renewable energy development assistance
applications: June 30, 2011.
ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for addresses concerning
applications for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Year
2011 funds.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this Notice,
please contact Mr. Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief, USDA Rural Development,
Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Telephone: (202) 720-6819. E-mail: kelley.oehler@wdc.usda.gov.
For further information on this program, please contact the
applicable USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator for your
respective State, as provided in the Supplementary Information section
of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Fiscal Year 2011 Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program
Applications. Application materials may be obtained by contacting
one of Rural Development's Energy Coordinators. In addition, for grant
applications, applicants may access the electronic grant application
for the Rural Energy for America Program at https://www.Grants.gov. To
locate the downloadable application package for this program, the
applicant must use the program's Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number 10.868 or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can
be found at https://www.Grants.gov.
Application submittal. For renewable energy system, energy
efficiency improvement, and feasibility study applications, submit
complete paper applications to the Rural Development State Office in
the State in which the applicant's proposed project is located. For
energy audit and renewable energy development assistance applications,
submit complete paper applications to the Rural Development State
Office in the State in which the applicant's principal office is
located.
Submit electronic grant only applications at https://www.grants.gov,
following the instructions found on this Web site.
Rural Development Energy Coordinators
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.
Alabama
Quinton Harris, USDA Rural Development, Sterling Centre, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3623,
Quinton.Harris@al.usda.gov.
Alaska
Chad Stovall, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite
201, Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7718, chad.stovall@ak.usda.gov.
American Samoa (See Hawaii)
Arizona
Alan Watt, USDA Rural Development, 230 North First Avenue, Suite
206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8769, Alan.Watt@az.usda.gov.
Arkansas
Tim Smith, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3280,
Tim.Smith@ar.usda.gov.
California
Philip Brown, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, 4169,
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792-5811, Phil.brown@ca.usda.gov.
Colorado
Jerry Tamlin, USDA Rural Development, 655 Parfet Street, Room E-
100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-2907, Jerry.Tamlin@co.usda.gov.
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands-CNMI (See Hawaii)
Connecticut (see Massachusetts)
Delaware/Maryland
Bruce Weaver, USDA Rural Development, 1221 College Park Drive,
Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3626, Bruce.Weaver@de.usda.gov.
Federated States of Micronesia (See Hawaii)
Florida/Virgin Islands
Matthew Wooten, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place,
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338-3486, Matthew.wooten@fl.usda.gov.
Georgia
J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural Development, 111 E. Spring St., Suite
B, Monroe, GA 30655, Phone 770-267-1413 ext. 113,
craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov.
Guam (See Hawaii)
Hawaii/Guam/Republic of Palau/Federated States of Micronesia/Republic
of the Marshall Islands/American Samoa/Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands--CNMI
Tim O'Connell, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 311,
154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8313,
Tim.Oconnell@hi.usda.gov.
[[Page 20944]]
Idaho
Brian Buch, USDA Rural Development, 9173 W. Barnes Drive, Suite A1,
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5623, Brian.Buch@id.usda.gov.
Illinois
Molly Hammond, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite
A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6210, Molly.Hammond@il.usda.gov.
Indiana
Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (812) 346-3411, Ext. 126,
Jerry.Hay@in.usda.gov.
Iowa
Teresa Bomhoff, USDA Rural Development, 873 Federal Building, 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4447,
teresa.bomhoff@ia.usda.gov.
Kansas
David Kramer, USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW. First American
Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2730,
david.kramer@ks.usda.gov.
Kentucky
Scott Maas, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200,
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7435, scott.maas@ky.usda.gov.
Louisiana
Kevin Boone, USDA Rural Development, 905 Jefferson Street, Suite
320, Lafayette, LA 70501, (337) 262-6601, Ext. 133,
Kevin.Boone@la.usda.gov.
Maine
John F. Sheehan, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite
4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9168,
john.sheehan@me.usda.gov.
Maryland (see Delaware)
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
Charles W. Dubuc, USDA Rural Development, 451 West Street, Suite 2,
Amherst, MA 01002, (401) 826-0842 x 306, Charles.Dubuc@ma.usda.gov.
Michigan
Traci J. Smith, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite
200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5157, Traci.Smith@mi.usda.gov.
Minnesota
Lisa L. Noty, USDA Rural Development, 1400 West Main Street, Albert
Lea, MN 56007, (507) 373-7960 Ext. 120, lisa.noty@mn.usda.gov.
Mississippi
G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 831,
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-5457,
george.jones@ms.usda.gov.
Missouri
Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West,
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-9321,
matt.moore@mo.usda.gov.
Montana
Michael Drewiske, USDA Rural Development, 2229 Boot Hill Court,
Bozeman, MT 59715-7914, (406) 585-2554, Michael.drewiske@mt.usda.gov.
Nebraska
Debra Yocum, USDA Rural Development, 100 Centennial Mall North,
Room 152, Federal Building, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5554,
Debra.Yocum@ne.usda.gov.
Nevada
Mark Williams, USDA Rural Development, 1390 South Curry Street,
Carson City, NV 89703, (775) 887-1222, mark.williams@nv.usda.gov.
New Hampshire (See Vermont)
New Jersey
Victoria Fekete, USDA Rural Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th
Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7752,
Victoria.Fekete@nj.usda.gov.
New Mexico
Jesse Bopp, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE.,
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4952,
Jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov.
New York
Scott Collins, USDA Rural Development, 9025 River Road, Marcy, NY
13403, (315) 736-3316 Ext. 4, scott.collins@ny.usda.gov.
North Carolina
David Thigpen, USDA Rural Development, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, 919-873-2065, David.Thigpen@nc.usda.gov.
North Dakota
Dennis Rodin, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 208,
220 East Rosser Avenue, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701)
530-2068, Dennis.Rodin@nd.usda.gov.
Ohio
Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room
507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2424,
Randy.Monhemius@oh.usda.gov.
Oklahoma
Jody Harris, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108,
Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1036, Jody.harris@ok.usda.gov.
Oregon
Don Hollis, USDA Rural Development, 200 SE. Hailey Ave, Suite 105,
Pendleton, OR 97801, (541) 278-8049, Ext. 129, Don.Hollis@or.usda.gov.
Pennsylvania
Bob Schoenfeldt, USDA Rural Development, 14699 North Main Street
Ext., Meadville, PA 16335, (814) 336-6155, Ext. 114,
robert.schoenfeldt@pa.usda.gov.
Puerto Rico
Luis Garcia, USDA Rural Development, IBM Building, 654 Munoz Rivera
Avenue, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5091, Ext. 251,
Luis.Garcia@pr.usda.gov.
Republic of Palau (See Hawaii)
Republic of the Marshall Islands (See Hawaii)
Rhode Island (see Massachusetts)
South Carolina
Shannon Legree, USDA Rural Development, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)
253-3150, Shannon.Legree@sc.usda.gov.
South Dakota
Kenneth Lynch, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 210,
200 4th Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1120,
ken.lynch@sd.usda.gov.
Tennessee
Will Dodson, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite
300, Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1350, will.dodson@tn.usda.gov.
Texas
Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102,
101 South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9775,
billy.curb@tx.usda.gov.
[[Page 20945]]
Utah
Roger Koon, USDA Rural Development, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138,
(801) 524-4301, Roger.Koon@ut.usda.gov.
Vermont/New Hampshire
Cheryl Ducharme, USDA Rural Development, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor,
Montpelier, VT 05602, 802-828-6083, cheryl.ducharme@vt.usda.gov.
Virginia
Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural Development, Culpeper Building, Suite
238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1594,
Laurette.Tucker@va.usda.gov.
Virgin Islands (see Florida)
Washington
Mary Traxler, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW.,
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7762, Mary.Traxler@wa.usda.gov.
West Virginia
Richard E. Satterfield, USDA Rural Development, 75 High Street,
Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4874,
Richard.Satterfield@wv.usda.gov.
Wisconsin
Brenda Heinen, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court,
Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7615, Ext. 139,
Brenda.Heinen@wi.usda.gov.
Wyoming
Jon Crabtree, USDA Rural Development, Dick Cheney Federal Building,
100 East B Street, Room 1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602, (307)
233-6719, Jon.Crabtree@wy.usda.gov.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements associated with renewable energy
system and energy efficiency improvement grants and guaranteed loans,
as covered in this Notice, has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0050. The
information collection requirements associated with energy audit and
renewable energy development assistance grants and with renewable
energy feasibility study grants have also been approved by OMB under
OMB Control Number 0570-0059 and OMB Control Number 0570-0061,
respectively.
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy for America Program.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number. 10.868.
Dates: Grant applications and combined grant and guaranteed loan
applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects under this Notice will be accepted up to June 15,
2011. Guaranteed loan only applications for renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement projects will be accepted on a continuous
basis, but to compete for FY 2011 funding, complete applications must
be submitted to the Agency by June 15, 2011. Applications for renewable
energy feasibility studies, energy audits, and renewable energy
development assistance grants will be accepted up to June 30, 2011.
For all applications submitted under this Notice, complete
applications must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development
State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time of the applicable
application deadline date in order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2011 funds. Any application received after its applicable date and
time, regardless of the postmark on the application, will not be
considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
Availability of Notice. This Notice for the Rural Energy for
America Program is available on the USDA Rural Development Web site at
https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose of the Rural Energy for America Program. This Notice is
issued pursuant to section 9001 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), which amends Title IX of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) and
establishes the Rural Energy for America Program under section 9007
thereof. The program is designed to help agricultural producers and
rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help
meet the Nation's critical energy needs.
B. Statutory Authority. This program is authorized under 7 U.S.C.
8107.
C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice
are published at 7 CFR 4280.103. In addition, the following definition
of ``hybrid'' applies to this Notice.
Hybrid. A combination of two or more renewable energy technologies
that are incorporated into a unified system to support a single
project.
II. Award Information
A. Available funds: The amount of grant funds available for energy
audits and renewable energy development assistance in Fiscal Year 2011
is approximately $2.8 million. The amount of grant funds available for
renewable energy system feasibility studies in Fiscal Year 2011 is $2.0
million. The budget authority available for renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement projects in Fiscal Year 2011 is $51.2
million. For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
projects only, there will be an allocation of funds to each State, and
the Rural Development's National Office will maintain a reserve of
funds.
In order to ensure that small projects have a fair opportunity to
compete for the funding and are consistent with the priorities set
forth in the statute, the Agency will set-aside $14 million of the $70
million budget authority available to fund grants of $20,000 or less.
B. Approximate number of awards: The number of awards will depend
on the number of eligible applicants participating in this program.
C. State and National competitions. Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement applications for Fiscal Year 2011 funds
will compete for funds allocated to their State (State competition) as
described under the competition deadline in this Notice. All unfunded
eligible State applications will be competed against other applications
from other States at a final National competition. Separate
competitions will be held on guaranteed loan only applications and on
grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination applications for
both State and National competitions. If funds remain after the
National guaranteed loan only application competition, the Agency may
elect to utilize budget authority to fund additional grant only and
grant and guaranteed loan combination applications in the National
competition.
D. Type of instrument. Grant, guaranteed loan, and grant/guaranteed
loan combinations.
E. Funding limitations. The following funding limitations apply to
applications submitted under to this Notice.
(1) Maximum grant assistance to an individual or entity. For the
purposes of this Notice, the maximum amount of grant assistance to one
individual or entity will not exceed $750,000 for Fiscal Year 2011
based on the total amount of renewable energy system,
[[Page 20946]]
energy efficiency improvement, and renewable energy feasibility study
grants awarded to the individual or entity under the Rural Energy for
America Program.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency funding. The 2008 Farm Bill
mandates the maximum percentages of funding that USDA Rural Development
will provide. Within the maximum funding amounts specified in this
Notice, renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
funding approved for guaranteed loan only requests and for combination
guaranteed loan and grant requests will not exceed 75 percent of
eligible project costs, with the grant portion not to exceed 25 percent
of total eligible project costs, whether the grant is part of a
combination request or is a stand-alone grant.
(3) Reallocation of grants funds. Based on the quality of the
applications received under this Notice and subject to statutory
limitations, the Agency reserves the right, at its discretion, to move
funds among the various grant allocations identified under Section
II.A. of this Notice.
(4) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
grant-only applications. For renewable energy system grants, the
minimum grant is $2,500 and the maximum is $500,000. For energy
efficiency improvement grants, the minimum grant is $1,500 and the
maximum grant is $250,000.
(5) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan
guarantee-only applications. For renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement loan guarantees, the minimum guaranteed loan
amount is $5,000 and the maximum amount of a guarantee to be provided
to a borrower is $25 million.
(6) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan and grant combination applications. Funding for grant
and loan combination packages for renewable energy systems and energy
efficiency improvement projects are subject to the funding limitations
specified in Section II.E.(2). The maximum amount for the grant portion
is $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy
efficiency improvements. The minimum amount of the grant portion is
$1,500 for either renewable energy systems or energy efficiency
improvements. For the guarantee portion, the maximum amount is $25
million and the minimum amount is $5,000.
(7) Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications.
The maximum amount of grant funds that will be made available for an
eligible feasibility study project under this subpart to any one
recipient will not exceed $50,000 or 25 percent of the total eligible
project cost of the study, whichever is less.
(8) Energy audit and renewable energy development assistance grant
applications. The maximum aggregate amount of energy audit and
renewable energy development assistance grants awarded to any one
recipient under this Notice cannot exceed $100,000. In addition, the
2008 Farm Bill mandates that the recipient of a grant that conducts an
energy audit for an agricultural producer or a rural small business
require the agricultural producer or rural small business to pay at
least 25 percent of the cost of the energy audit, which shall be
retained by the eligible entity for the cost of the audit.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible applicants. To be eligible for this program, an
applicant must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR
4280.109, 7 CFR 4280.110(c), and, as applicable, 7 CFR 4280.112, 7 CFR
4280.122, 7 CFR 4280.170, or 7 CFR 4280.186.
B. Eligible lenders. To be eligible for this program, lenders must
meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.130.
C. Eligible projects. To be eligible for this program, a project
must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.113, 7
CFR 4280.123, 7 CFR 4280.171, and 7 CFR 4280.187, as applicable.
IV. Fiscal Year 2011 Application and Submission Information
Applicants seeking to participate in this program must submit
applications in accordance with this Notice and 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart B, as applicable. Applicants must submit complete applications
in order to be considered.
A. Where To Obtain Applications
Applicants may obtain applications from any USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this
Notice. In addition, for grant applications, applicants may access the
electronic grant application for the Rural Energy for America Program
at https://www.Grants.gov. To locate the downloadable application
package for this program, the applicant must use the program's CFDA
Number 10.868 or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can be
found at https://www.Grants.gov.
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about
submitting an application electronically through the site. To use
Grants.gov, all applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (unless the applicant is an
individual), which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request
line at 1-866-705-5711 or online at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. USDA
Rural Development strongly recommends that applicants do not wait until
the application deadline date to begin the application process through
Grants.gov.
B. When To Submit
Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grant and
Combined Grant and Guaranteed Loan Applications. Grant applications and
combined grant and guaranteed loan applications for renewable energy
systems and energy efficiency improvement projects under this Notice
will be accepted up to June 15, 2011. Complete applications under this
Notice must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State
Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on June 15, 2011, in order to
be considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds. Any application received
after this date and time, regardless of the postmark on the
application, will not be considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement
Guaranteed Loan Only Applications. Guaranteed loan only applications
for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement projects
will be accepted on a continuous basis, but to be considered for Fiscal
Year 2011 funds, complete applications must be received by the
appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m.
local time on June 15, 2011. Any application received after this date
and time, regardless of the postmark on the application, will be
considered for Fiscal Year 2012 funds.
Renewable Energy System Feasibility Study Applications.
Applications for RES feasibility study grants under this Notice will be
accepted up to June 30, 2011. Complete applications under this Notice
must be received at the appropriate State Office by 4:30 p.m. local
time on June 30, 2011, in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds. Any application received after this date and time, regardless of
the application's postmark, will not be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds.
Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Assistance
Applications. Applications for EA and REDA grants under this Notice
will be accepted up to June 30, 2011. Complete applications
[[Page 20947]]
under this Notice must be received at the appropriate State Office by
4:30 p.m. local time on June 30, 2011, in order to be considered for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds. Any application received after this date and
time, regardless of the application's postmark, will not be considered
for Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
C. Where To Submit
All renewable energy system, energy efficiency improvement, and
renewable energy system feasibility study applications are to be
submitted to the USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator in the State
in which the applicant's proposed project is located. All energy audit
and renewable energy development assistance applications are to be
submitted to the USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator in the State
in which the applicant's principal office is located. A list of USDA
Rural Development Energy Coordinators is provided in the ADDRESSES
section of this Notice. Alternatively, for grant only applications,
applicants may submit their electronic applications to the Agency via
the Grants.gov Web site.
D. How To Submit
Applicants may submit their applications either as hard copy or
electronically as specified in the following paragraphs. When
submitting an application as hard copy, applicants must submit one
original and one copy of the complete application.
(1) Grant applications. All grant applications may be submitted
either as hard copy to the appropriate Rural Development Energy
Coordinator or electronically using the Government-wide Grants.gov Web
site. Users of Grants.gov who download a copy of the application
package may complete it off line and then upload and submit the
application via the Grants.gov site, including all information
typically included on the application, and all necessary assurances and
certifications. After electronically submitting an application through
the Web site, the applicant will receive an automated acknowledgement
from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
(2) Guaranteed loan applications. Guaranteed loan only applications
(i.e., those that are not part of a guaranteed loan/grant combination
request) must be submitted as hard copy.
(3) Guaranteed loan/grant combination applications. Applications
for guaranteed loans/grants (combination applications) must be
submitted as hard copy.
E. Other Submission Requirements and Information
(1) Application restrictions. Applicants may apply for only one
renewable energy system project and one energy efficiency improvement
project in Fiscal Year 2011. A renewable energy system application
cannot be submitted in Fiscal Year 2011 if a REAP feasibility study
grant application for the same renewable energy system is submitted in
Fiscal Year 2011 and vice versa.
Applicants may apply for only one renewable energy system
feasibility study grant under this Notice for Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
Applicants may only submit one energy audit grant application and
one renewable energy development assistance grant application for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
(2) Environmental information. For the Agency to consider an
application, the application must include all environmental review
documents with supporting documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part
1940, subpart G. Applications for financial assistance for planning
purposes or management and feasibility studies are typically
categorically excluded from the environmental review process by 7 CFR
1940.310(e)(1).
(3) Original signatures. USDA Rural Development may request that
the applicant provide original signatures on forms submitted through
Grants.gov at a later date.
(4) Award considerations. In determining the amount of a renewable
energy system or energy efficiency improvement grant or loan guarantee,
the Agency will consider the six criteria specified in 7 CFR
4280.115(g) or 7 CFR 4280.124(f), as applicable.
(5) Hybrid projects. If the application is for a hybrid project,
technical reports, as required under 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(7), must be
prepared for each technology that comprises the hybrid project.
(6) Multiple facilities. Applicants may submit a single application
that proposes to apply the same renewable energy system (including the
same hybrid project) or energy efficiency improvement across multiple
facilities. For example, a rural small business owner owns five retail
stores and wishes to install solar panels on each store. The rural
small business owner may submit a single application for installing the
solar panels on the five stores. However, if this same owner wishes to
install solar panels on three of the five stores and wind turbines for
the other two stores, the owner can only submit an application for
either the solar panels or for the wind turbines in the same fiscal
year.
V. Program Provisions
This section of the Notice identifies the provisions of the interim
rule applicable to each type of funding available under REAP.
A. General
The provisions specified in 7 CFR 4280.101 through 4280.111 apply
to this Notice.
B. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project
Grants
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.112 through 4820.121 apply to
renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement projects
grants.
C. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project
Guaranteed Loans
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.122 through 4820.160 apply to
guaranteed loans for renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year 2011, the guarantee fee amount is
1 percent of the guaranteed portion of the loan and the annual renewal
fee is 0.250 percent (one-quarter of one percent) of the guaranteed
portion of the loan.
D. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project
Grant and Guaranteed Loan Combined Requests
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.165 apply to a combined grant and
guaranteed loan for renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects.
E. Renewable Energy System Feasibility Study Grants
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.170 through 4820.182 apply to
renewable energy system feasibility study grants.
F. Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.186 through 4820.196 apply to
energy audit and renewable energy development assistance grants.
G. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2010 Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
If an applicant or lender submitted an application for funding in
Fiscal Year
[[Page 20948]]
2010 and that application was determined eligible but was not funded,
the Agency will consider that Fiscal Year 2010 application for funding
in Fiscal Year 2011 as provided in this section.
(1) Written request. An applicant or lender must submit a written
request for the Agency to consider its Fiscal Year 2010 application for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds. For a guarantee loan and grant combination
application, both the lender and applicant must submit the written
request to the Agency in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2011
funds.
(i) Except for simplified applications, applicants must provide
current financial statements that meet the program requirements
outlined in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(4) with the written request.
(ii) Written requests to consider Fiscal Year 2010 applications for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds may be submitted at any time during Fiscal Year
2011 up to and including 4:30 pm local time on June 15, 2011, to be
considered for Fiscal Year 2011 funds. Written requests received after
this time and date will not be accepted by the Agency and the
applicant's Fiscal Year 2010 application will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2011 funds.
(2) Revisions to Fiscal Year 2010 applications. If an applicant
makes any revision to its Fiscal Year 2010 application that are not
necessitated by the REAP interim rule, a new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice must be submitted in order to be considered
for Fiscal Year 2011 funds and a new date the complete application was
received will be recorded. However, if a revision to the Fiscal Year
2010 application is necessitated by the REAP interim rule or the Agency
requests an update of information in the original application (for
example, required current financial statements), there will be no
change in the date the complete application was received.
(3) No revisions to Fiscal Year 2010 applications. If an applicant
does not plan to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year 2010
application, a new application is not required and the date the
complete application was received remains unchanged from its original
Fiscal Year 2010 receipt date.
H. Award Process. In addition to the process for awarding funding
under 7 CFR 4280, subpart B, the Agency will make awards using the
following considerations:
(1) Funding renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement grant and grant/guaranteed loan awards. Considering the
availability of funds, the Agency will fund those grant only
applications and grant/guaranteed loan applications that score the
highest based on the grant score of the application; that is, the grant
score an application receives will be compared to the grant scores of
other applications, with higher scoring applications receiving first
consideration for funding.
(2) Guaranteed loan only awards. Considering the availability of
funds, the Agency will fund those guaranteed loan only applications
that score the highest compared to the scores of other applications,
with higher scoring applications receiving first consideration for
funding.
(3) Evaluation criteria. Agency personnel will score each
application based on the evaluation criteria specified in 7 CFR
4280.117(c), 7 CFR 4280.129(c), 7 CFR 4280.178, or 7 CFR 4280.192, as
applicable.
For hybrid applications, each technical report will be evaluated
and scored based on its own merit. The scores for the technologies will
be consolidated using a weighted average approach based on the
percentage of the cost for each system to the total project cost.
Example: A hybrid project contains a wind and solar photovoltaic
components. The wind system will cost the $30,000 (75 percent of total
eligible project cost) and the solar will cost $10,000 (25 percent of
total eligible project cost). The wind technical report was evaluated
and assigned a total score of 22 points, while the solar report was
evaluated and assigned a total score of 31 points. In this scenario,
the final technical score would be assigned as follows: (22 x 75
percent) + (31 x 25 percent) = 24.25.
(4) Applications that receive the same score. If applications score
the same and if remaining funds are insufficient to fund each such
application, the Agency will distribute the remaining funds to each
such application on a pro-rata basis.
VI. Administration Information
A. Notifications
(1) Applicants. The notification provisions of 7 CFR 4280.111 apply
to this Notice.
(2) Lenders. The notification provisions of 7 CFR 4280.129(a) apply
to this Notice.
B. Administrative and National Policy requirements
(1) Exception authority. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.104 apply to
this Notice.
(2) Appeals. A person may seek a review of an Agency decision or
appeal to the National Appeals Division in accordance with 7 CFR
4280.105.
(3) Conflict of interest. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.106 apply to
this Notice.
(4) USDA Departmental Regulations and other laws that contains
other compliance requirements. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.107 and 7
CFR 4280.108 apply to this Notice.
VII. Agency Contacts
For assistance on this program, please contact a USDA Rural
Development Energy Coordinator, as provided in the Addresses section of
this Notice.
VIII. Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived
from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means
for communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director,
Office of Adjudication and Compliance, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-
6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and
lender.
Dated: April 1, 2011.
Dallas Tonsager,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2011-8456 Filed 4-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
