[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27013-27014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12459]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the 
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant 
Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of extension of application deadline and clarification 
of previous notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) extends the 
deadline of June 6, 2003, for submitting applications for grant funds 
to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency 
improvements for agricultural producers and rural small businesses 
under Title IX, Section 9006, pursuant to enactment of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 announced in a notice of 
funds availability (NOFA) published April 8, 2003 (67 FR 17009). This 
action is also taken to provide additional information that clarifies 
the financial requirements for agricultural producers and requirements 
for utility interconnection agreements and power purchase arrangements. 
This extension will allow eligible applicants additional time to submit 
applications.

DATES: Accordingly, the deadline for submitting applications under the 
notice published April 8, 2003, (67 FR 17009) is extended to June 27, 
2003. Applications postmarked after June 27, 2003, will be returned to 
the applicant with no action. Postage due applications will not be 
accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USDA Rural Development State Offices 
published in the notice on April 8, 2003 (67 FR 17009).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background and Discussion of Extension of Application Deadline

    RBS published a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) on April 8, 
2003 (67 FR 17009) with an application deadline of June 6, 2003. Due to 
the application requirements outlined in the NOFA and the 
clarifications of two areas of the NOFA that are being provided as part 
of this notice, RBS is extending the application period until June 26, 
2003.
    The NOFA requires that agricultural producers submit a current 
balance sheet and income statement in a format that is generally 
required by commercial agricultural lenders. In addition, agricultural 
producers are required to provide financial statements for the past 3 
years, including income statements and balance sheets, in the format 
that is generally required by commercial agricultural lenders. For 
agricultural producers, the requirement of the use of a format that is 
generally required by commercial agricultural lenders is satisfied by 
the use of ``income tax returns, bank statements, balance sheet/income 
statements, or financial statements.'' If the applicant chooses to 
submit last year's income tax return in lieu of a current income 
statement, a balance sheet and/or bank statement will be required. This 
requirement is necessary in order to determine the demonstrated 
financial need for the grant. Agricultural producers may submit only 
income tax returns to satisfy the requirement to provide financial 
statements for the past 3 years. For assistance in finding technical 
and feasibility resources useful in preparing an application under the 
NOFA, please access the Rural Development Web site, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov, in the Rural Development News section.
    RBS recognizes that the interconnection agreement and power 
purchase arrangements may take several months to arrange and execute. 
While the Agency always recognized this reality, language used in the 
NOFA to describe the requirement could have been more clear. Applicants 
are advised that a letter of intent between the utility and the 
applicant to enter into an interconnection agreement satisfies the 
requirement in the NOFA. Applicants are also advised that a letter of 
intent between the power purchaser and the applicant to enter into a 
power purchase arrangement satisfies the requirement in the NOFA. RBS 
recognizes that the utility and the power purchaser may be different 
entities.


[[Page 27014]]


    Dated: May 12, 2003.
Thomas C. Dorr,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 03-12459 Filed 5-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P