Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program, 42910-42911 [2023-14266]
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42910
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 5, 2023 / Notices
2024 appropriation. Should the fees
need to be adjusted after passage of the
FY 2024 appropriations, the agency will
publish a subsequent notice in the
Federal Register.
DATES: The fees in this notice are
effective October 1, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information specific to this notice
contact Michele Brooks, Director,
Regulations Management, Rural
Development Innovation Center—
Regulations Management, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–1522. Telephone: (202) 690–
1078. Email: michele.brooks@usda.gov.
For information regarding
implementation, contact your respective
Rural Development State Office listed
here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/browsestate.
As set
forth in 7 CFR part 5001, the Agency is
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Guarantee fee
(%)
Loan type
B&I ...................................................................................................................
B&I Reduced Fee ............................................................................................
B&I project in a high cost, isolated rural area of the State of Alaska that is
not connected to a road system ..................................................................
CF ....................................................................................................................
REAP ...............................................................................................................
WWD ................................................................................................................
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
The initial guarantee fee is paid at the
time the loan note guarantee is issued.
The periodic guarantee retention fee is
paid by the lender to the Agency once
a year. Payment of the periodic
guarantee retention fee is required in
order to maintain the enforceability of
the guarantee. The fee for issuance of
the loan note guarantee prior to
construction completion DOES NOT
apply to all construction loans. This
additional fee only applies to loans
requesting to receive a loan note
guarantee prior to project completion.
For loans where the loan note guarantee
is issued between October 1 and
December 31, the first periodic retention
fee payment is due January 31 of the
second year following the date the loan
note guarantee was issued.
Unless precluded by a subsequent FY
2024 appropriation, these rates will
apply to all guaranteed loans obligated
in FY 2024. The amount of the periodic
retention fee on each guaranteed loan
will be determined by multiplying the
periodic retention fee rate by the
outstanding principal loan balance as of
December 31, multiplied by the
percentage of guarantee.
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil
rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its
agencies, offices, and employees, and
institutions participating in or
administering USDA Programs are
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Periodic
guarantee
retention fee
(%)
Loan
guarantee
percentage
(%)
Fee for
issuance of
loan note
guarantee
prior to
construction
completion
(%)
3.00
1.0
0.55
0.50
80
80
0.50
0.50
1.0
1.25
1.0
1.0
0.50
0.50
0.25
N/A
90
80
80
80
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, income derived from a
public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior
civil rights activity, in any program or
activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means of communication for
program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign
Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or contact USDA
through the 711 Relay Service.
Additionally, program information may
be made available in languages other
than English.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form, AD–3027, USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, which can be obtained online at
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/
files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any
USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992,
or by writing a letter addressed to
USDA. The letter must contain the
complainant’s name, address, telephone
number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in
sufficient detail to inform the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil
PO 00000
authorized to charge a guarantee fee, a
periodic guarantee retention fee, a fee
for the issuance of the loan note
guarantee prior to construction
completion and establish a loan
guarantee percentage for guaranteed
loans made under this rule. Pursuant to
this and other applicable authority, and
subject to the current appropriated
authority, the Agency is establishing the
following for FY 2024:
rights violation. The completed AD–
3027 form or letter must be submitted to
USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690–
7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Xochitl Torres Small,
Undersecretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2023–14130 Filed 7–3–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Powering Affordable Clean Energy
(PACE) Program
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice; announcement of the
opening of the online application
window for the PACE Program.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Rural Utilities Service, a
Rural Development agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), hereinafter referred to as
‘‘RUS’’ or ‘‘the Agency’’ announced its
intent to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI)
for loan applications under the
Powering Affordable Clean Energy
(PACE) Program in a Notice of Funding
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM
05JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 5, 2023 / Notices
I. Background
On August 16, 2022, The Biden Harris
Administration and the United State
Congress passed the Inflation Reduction
Act of 2022 which authorized the PACE
Program. The goal of the PACE Program
is to support clean, affordable energy
growth across America by providing
loans to eligible entities, with varying
levels of loan forgiveness, for projects
that generate and/or store electricity
from RER.
On May 16, 2023, the Agency
published a NOFO in the Federal
Register (88 FR 31232) that solicited
LOIs for loan applications under the
DATES: The Agency will begin accepting
LOIs for the PACE Program beginning at PACE Program and announced the
11:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 10, application process for those loans as
well as provided deadlines for
2023, and until 11:59 p.m. ET on
applications from eligible entities. The
September 29, 2023.
NOFO also informed potential
ADDRESSES: All LOIs must be submitted
Applicants that the Agency would
to RUS electronically at www.grants.gov. finalize the specific requirements of
Additional information and resources
submitting an LOI through the on-line
are available at https://
application window by a separate notice
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/
in the Federal Register and on the RUS
electric-programs/powering-affordablewebsite at https://www.rd.usda.gov/
clean-energy-pace-program. The
programs-services/electric-programs/
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 funding powering-affordable-clean-energy-pacefor Rural Development website is
program. In response to stakeholder
located at https://www.rd.usda.gov/
requests, RUS is pushing back the
inflation-reduction-act.
opening date for accepting LOI
submissions from June 30, 2023, to July
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
10, 2023, to provide stakeholders more
Christopher McLean, Assistant
time to prepare their LOIs.
Administrator, Electric Program, Rural
Utilities Service, Rural Development,
II. Letter of Interest Requirements and
United States Department of
Submission
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue
A. Letter of Interest Requirements
SW, STOP 1568, Washington, DC
The Agency has added the
20250–1560; Telephone: 202–690–4492.
requirement to submit an Application
Email to: SM.RD.RUS.IRA.Questions@
for Federal Assistance (SF 424) to the
usda.gov.
list of items needed for a complete LOI
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
in order to accept the LOI’s through
Authority: The PACE Program is
Grants.gov. In addition to the SF 424,
authorized under Section 22001 of the
Applicants will still be required to
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Public
provide the information included in
Law 117–169.
Section D.1(a) of the NOFO that
published in the Federal Register on
Overview
May 16, 2023, (88 FR 31232). The RUS
Federal Awarding Agency Name:
PACE website will include an LOI
Rural Utilities Service.
Guide at https://www.rd.usda.gov/
programs-services/electric-programs/
Funding Opportunity Title: Powering
powering-affordable-clean-energy-paceAffordable Clean Energy (PACE)
program. The LOI Guide will provide
Program.
Announcement Type: Announcement details on the submission of the LOI on
Grants.gov, including how to provide
of the Opening of the On-Line
attachments. In addition, the LOI Guide
Application Window for the PACE
will detail how Applicants must use the
Program.
RUS geospatial mapping tool to draw
Assistance Listing Number: 10.757.
the service areas associated with each
Funding Opportunity Number: RUS–
PACE project and then upload ShapePACE–2023.
files to Grants.gov as part of an LOI
Application. The LOI Guide will also
LOI Submission Information: RUS
indicate where to attach the additional
will accept electronic submission of
requirements for the LOI, such as a copy
LOIs through Grants.gov. RUS will not
of the Applicant’s balance sheet and
accept paper, facsimile, or email
income statements.
transmission.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023,
in the Federal Register. In addition, the
NOFO also announced the application
process for those loans and provided
deadlines for applications from eligible
entities. Loans will be made to qualified
PACE Applicants to finance power
generation projects for Renewable
Energy Resource (RER) Systems or
Energy Storage Systems that support
RER Projects. This Notice announces a
new opening date for PACE LOI
submissions as well as an update on
how to submit an LOI and additional
information that must be submitted.
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42911
B. Letter of Interest Submission
1. Application of General Assistance.
Prior to official submission of an LOI,
Applicants may request general
assistance from the Agency if such
requests are made prior to September
22, 2023. The Agency may provide
general assistance as it is able, and
Applicants may request assistance in
the form of general assistance and
consultation with an RUS GFR. Please
note that RUS GFRs shall not provide
strategic submission or strategic LOI
advice, and Applicants are fully
responsible for their submissions.
Assistance may also be requested to
Agency staff in the form of requests to
speak at meetings, events, and
conferences to explain program
provisions and answer questions about
this funding announcement. Responses
to questions regarding program
provisions and this funding
announcement will be posted to the
PACE FAQ page. Information on
contacting an RUS GFR can be found at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/
electric-gfr. For requests regarding
speaking engagements, please email:
SM.RD.RUS.IRA.Questions@usda.gov.
2. Letters of Interest Submission
Deadlines: The Agency will begin
accepting LOIs for the PACE Program
beginning at 11:59 a.m. ET on July 10,
2023, and until 11:59 p.m. ET on
September 29, 2023.
The LOIs must be submitted
electronically thru www.grants.gov. The
PACE funding opportunity in
Grants.gov can be found by searching
for the funding opportunity number
found in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this Notice.
Please review the Grants.gov website at
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/
register.html for instructions on the
process of registering an organization as
soon as possible to ensure that all
electronic application deadlines are
met. Grants.gov will not accept
applications submitted after the
deadline.
III. Program Requirements
To be eligible for an award,
applications must meet all of the
requirements contained in the NOFO
published in the Federal Register on
May 16, 2023, at 88 FR 31232.
Information can also be found at https://
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/
electric-programs/powering-affordableclean-energy-pace-program.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–14266 Filed 6–30–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42910-42911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14266]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of the opening of the online application
window for the PACE Program.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to
as ``RUS'' or ``the Agency'' announced its intent to solicit Letters of
Interest (LOI) for loan applications under the Powering Affordable
Clean Energy (PACE) Program in a Notice of Funding
[[Page 42911]]
Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023, in the Federal Register. In
addition, the NOFO also announced the application process for those
loans and provided deadlines for applications from eligible entities.
Loans will be made to qualified PACE Applicants to finance power
generation projects for Renewable Energy Resource (RER) Systems or
Energy Storage Systems that support RER Projects. This Notice announces
a new opening date for PACE LOI submissions as well as an update on how
to submit an LOI and additional information that must be submitted.
DATES: The Agency will begin accepting LOIs for the PACE Program
beginning at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 10, 2023, and until
11:59 p.m. ET on September 29, 2023.
ADDRESSES: All LOIs must be submitted to RUS electronically at
www.grants.gov. Additional information and resources are available at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program. The Inflation Reduction Act of
2022 funding for Rural Development website is located at https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McLean, Assistant
Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service, Rural
Development, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, STOP 1568, Washington, DC 20250-1560; Telephone: 202-690-
4492. Email to: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: The PACE Program is authorized under Section 22001 of
the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Public Law 117-169.
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Utilities Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE)
Program.
Announcement Type: Announcement of the Opening of the On-Line
Application Window for the PACE Program.
Assistance Listing Number: 10.757.
Funding Opportunity Number: RUS-PACE-2023.
LOI Submission Information: RUS will accept electronic submission
of LOIs through Grants.gov. RUS will not accept paper, facsimile, or
email transmission.
I. Background
On August 16, 2022, The Biden Harris Administration and the United
State Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which
authorized the PACE Program. The goal of the PACE Program is to support
clean, affordable energy growth across America by providing loans to
eligible entities, with varying levels of loan forgiveness, for
projects that generate and/or store electricity from RER.
On May 16, 2023, the Agency published a NOFO in the Federal
Register (88 FR 31232) that solicited LOIs for loan applications under
the PACE Program and announced the application process for those loans
as well as provided deadlines for applications from eligible entities.
The NOFO also informed potential Applicants that the Agency would
finalize the specific requirements of submitting an LOI through the on-
line application window by a separate notice in the Federal Register
and on the RUS website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program. In
response to stakeholder requests, RUS is pushing back the opening date
for accepting LOI submissions from June 30, 2023, to July 10, 2023, to
provide stakeholders more time to prepare their LOIs.
II. Letter of Interest Requirements and Submission
A. Letter of Interest Requirements
The Agency has added the requirement to submit an Application for
Federal Assistance (SF 424) to the list of items needed for a complete
LOI in order to accept the LOI's through Grants.gov. In addition to the
SF 424, Applicants will still be required to provide the information
included in Section D.1(a) of the NOFO that published in the Federal
Register on May 16, 2023, (88 FR 31232). The RUS PACE website will
include an LOI Guide at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program. The
LOI Guide will provide details on the submission of the LOI on
Grants.gov, including how to provide attachments. In addition, the LOI
Guide will detail how Applicants must use the RUS geospatial mapping
tool to draw the service areas associated with each PACE project and
then upload Shape-files to Grants.gov as part of an LOI Application.
The LOI Guide will also indicate where to attach the additional
requirements for the LOI, such as a copy of the Applicant's balance
sheet and income statements.
B. Letter of Interest Submission
1. Application of General Assistance. Prior to official submission
of an LOI, Applicants may request general assistance from the Agency if
such requests are made prior to September 22, 2023. The Agency may
provide general assistance as it is able, and Applicants may request
assistance in the form of general assistance and consultation with an
RUS GFR. Please note that RUS GFRs shall not provide strategic
submission or strategic LOI advice, and Applicants are fully
responsible for their submissions. Assistance may also be requested to
Agency staff in the form of requests to speak at meetings, events, and
conferences to explain program provisions and answer questions about
this funding announcement. Responses to questions regarding program
provisions and this funding announcement will be posted to the PACE FAQ
page. Information on contacting an RUS GFR can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/electric-gfr. For requests regarding
speaking engagements, please email: [email protected].
2. Letters of Interest Submission Deadlines: The Agency will begin
accepting LOIs for the PACE Program beginning at 11:59 a.m. ET on July
10, 2023, and until 11:59 p.m. ET on September 29, 2023.
The LOIs must be submitted electronically thru www.grants.gov. The
PACE funding opportunity in Grants.gov can be found by searching for
the funding opportunity number found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this Notice. Please review the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html for instructions on the
process of registering an organization as soon as possible to ensure
that all electronic application deadlines are met. Grants.gov will not
accept applications submitted after the deadline.
III. Program Requirements
To be eligible for an award, applications must meet all of the
requirements contained in the NOFO published in the Federal Register on
May 16, 2023, at 88 FR 31232. Information can also be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-14266 Filed 6-30-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
