[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2948-2954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-755]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America
Program
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the acceptance of applications under the
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2012 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 $25.4 million of Fiscal Year 2012 budget authority
to fund these REAP activities, which will support at least $12.5
million in grant program level and up to approximately $48.5 million in
guaranteed loan program level.
DATES: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2012 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:
March 30, 2012.
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a continuous basis up to June 29,
2012.
For renewable energy system feasibility study applications: March
30, 2012.
For energy audits and renewable energy development assistance
applications: February 21, 2012.
ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for addresses concerning
applications for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Year
2012 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. Email: [email protected].
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 2012 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 http://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 http://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 is headquartered.
Submit electronic grant only applications at http://www.grants.gov,
following the instructions found on this Web site.
Rural Development Energy Coordinators
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.
Alabama
Marcia Johnson, USDA Rural Development, Sterling Centre, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3453,
[email protected].
Alaska
Chad Stovall, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7718, [email protected].
American Samoa (See Hawaii)
Arizona
Gary Mack, USDA Rural Development, 230 North First Avenue, Suite 206,
[[Page 2949]]
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8717, [email protected].
Arkansas
Laura Tucker, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3280,
[email protected].
California
Philip Brown, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, 4169,
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792-5811, [email protected].
Colorado
Janice Pond, USDA Rural Development, Denver Federal Center, Building
56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 544-2907,
[email protected].
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) 857-3629, [email protected].
Federated States of Micronesia (See Hawaii)
Florida/Virgin Islands
Angela Prioleau, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place,
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338-3412, [email protected].
Georgia
J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural Development, 111 E. Spring St., Suite B,
Monroe, GA 30655, Phone (770) 267-1413 ext. 113,
[email protected].
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,
[email protected].
Idaho
Brian Buch, USDA Rural Development, 9173 W. Barnes Drive, Suite A1,
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5623, [email protected].
Illinois
Mary Warren, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A,
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6218, [email protected].
Indiana
Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (812) 346-3411, Ext. 126,
[email protected].
Iowa
Kate Sand, USDA Rural Development, 909 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite C,
Indianola, IA 50125, (515) 961-5365 Ext.130, [email protected].
Kansas
David Kramer, USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2730,
[email protected].
Kentucky
Scott Maas, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200,
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7435, [email protected].
Louisiana
Kevin Boone, USDA Rural Development, 905 Jefferson Street, Suite 320,
Lafayette, LA 70501, (337) 262-6601, Ext. 133, [email protected].
Maine
Beverly Stone, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4,
P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9125,
[email protected].
Maryland (see Delaware)
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
Charles W. Dubuc, USDA Rural Development, 60 Quaker Lane, Suite 44,
Warwick, RI 02886, (401) 822-8867, [email protected].
Michigan
Rick Vanderbeek, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5157, [email protected].
Minnesota
Ron Oman, USDA Rural Development, 375 Jackson St., Suite 410, St. Paul,
MN 55101, (651) 602-7796, [email protected].
Mississippi
G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural Development, 100 W. Capital Street, Suite
831, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-5457, [email protected].
Missouri
Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade
Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-9321,
[email protected].
Montana
John Guthmiller, USDA Rural Development, 2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box
850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2540, [email protected].
Nebraska
Debra Yocum, USDA Rural Development, 100 Centennial Mall North, Room
152, Federal Building, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5554,
[email protected].
Nevada
Mark Williams, USDA Rural Development, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson
City, NV 89703, (775) 887-1222, [email protected].
New Hampshire (See Vermont)
New Jersey
Victoria Fekete, USDA Rural Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive, Suite
500N, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7752,
[email protected].
New Mexico
Jesse Bopp, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4952, [email protected].
New York
Scott Collins, USDA Rural Development, 9025 River Road, Marcy, NY
13403, (315) 736-3316 Ext. 127, [email protected].
North Carolina
David Thigpen, USDA Rural Development, 4405 Bland Rd., Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2065, [email protected].
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, [email protected].
Ohio
Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 507,
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2424,
[email protected].
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Oklahoma
Jody Harris, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater,
OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1036, [email protected].
Oregon
Don Hollis, USDA Rural Development, 200 SE Hailey Ave., Suite 105,
Pendleton, OR 97801, (541) 278-8049, Ext. 129, [email protected].
Pennsylvania
Amanda Krugh, USDA Rural Development, 1 Credit Union Place, Suite 330,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, Phone: (717) 237-2289,
[email protected].
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,
[email protected].
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, [email protected].
South Dakota
Kenneth Lynch, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 210, 200
4th Street SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1120, [email protected].
Tennessee
Will Dodson, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1350, [email protected].
Texas
Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101
South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9775,
[email protected].
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, [email protected].
Vermont/New Hampshire
Cheryl Ducharme, USDA Rural Development, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor,
Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6083, [email protected].
Virginia
Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural Development, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite
238, Richmond, VA 23229, (434) 392-4906 Ext. 125, (804) 287-1606,
[email protected].
Virgin Islands (see Florida)
Washington
Mary Traxler, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Suite
B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7762, [email protected].
West Virginia
Lisa Sharp, USDA Rural Development, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101,
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4871, [email protected].
Wisconsin
Brenda Heinen, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7615, Ext. 139, [email protected].
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, [email protected].
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 March 30,
2012. Guaranteed loan only applications for renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement projects will be accepted on a continuous
basis, but to compete for Fiscal Year 2012 funding, complete
applications must be submitted to the Agency by June 29, 2012.
Applications for renewable energy feasibility studies will be accepted
up to March 30, 2012. Energy audit and renewable energy development
assistance grants will be accepted up to February 21, 2012.
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
2012 funds. Any application received after its applicable date and
time, regardless of the postmark on the application, will not be
considered for Fiscal Year 2012 funds.
Availability of Notice: This Notice for the Rural Energy for
America Program is available through the USDA Rural Development Web
site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Energy.html.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose of the Rural Energy for America Program. 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
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 funds available for renewable
energy systems and energy efficiency improvements in Fiscal Year 2012
will be approximately $59.6 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.
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The amount of grant funds available for renewable energy system
feasibility studies in Fiscal Year 2012 will be $500,000. The balance
of the funds unused for the feasibility study grants may be utilized in
any of the renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
National competitions.
The amount of funds available for energy audits and renewable
energy development assistance in Fiscal Year 2012 will be $880,000.
Obligations of these funds will take place through March 31, 2012. Any
unobligated balances will be moved to the renewable energy subsidy
account as of April 1, 2012. These funds may be utilized in any of the
renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement National
competitions. 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
approximately $5 million to fund grants of $20,000 or less. Obligations
of these funds will take place through June 30, 2012. Any unobligated
balances will be moved to the renewable energy subsidy account as of
July 1, 2012. These funds may be utilized in any of the renewable
energy system and energy efficiency improvement National competitions.
B. Approximate number of awards. The number of awards will depend
on the amount of funds made available and 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 2012 funds
will compete for funds allocated to their State for competition.
Separate competitions will be held for (1) grant only and grant and
guaranteed loan combination applications; (2) grants of $20,000 or less
applications, and (3) guaranteed loan only applications. Grant only and
grant and guaranteed loan combination applications and grants of
$20,000 or less applications will each have one State competition. All
unfunded eligible grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination
applications received by March 30, 2011, will be competed against other
grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination applications from
other States at a final National competition. However, the Agency
reserves the right to hold a separate National competition for grants
of $20,000 or less if funding remains after the State competition.
Obligations of these funds will take place through June 30, 2012. State
competitions will be held bi-weekly for guaranteed loan only
applications. A minimum score of 50 is required for guaranteed loan
only applications to compete in the State competitions. If a State does
not have sufficient funds to make a guaranteed loan award, funding may
be obtained from the guaranteed loan reserves held at the National
Office. The guaranteed loan application will not have to compete any
further. Finally, all unfunded eligible guaranteed loan only
applications received by June 29, 2011, will be competed against other
guaranteed loan only applications from other States at a final National
competition if the guaranteed loan reserves have not been completely
depleted. If funds remain after the final guaranteed loan only National
competition, the Agency may elect to utilize budget authority to fund
additional grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination
applications that competed in the National competition. Renewable
energy system feasibility study grant applications and energy audits
and renewable energy development assistance grant applications will
compete in separate National competitions.
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 entity. For the purposes of this
Notice, the maximum amount of grant assistance to an entity will not
exceed $750,000 for Fiscal Year 2012 based on the total amount of
renewable energy system, energy efficiency improvement, and renewable
energy feasibility study grants awarded to an entity under the Rural
Energy for America Program.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency funding. The Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-234, 122 Stat. 93 (May 22,
2008) (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 loan and grants funds. The Agency reserves the
right, at its discretion, to move funds between grant and loan budget
authority based upon the demand of applications received under this
Notice after June 29, 2012.
(4) Universal identifier and Central Contract Registration (CCR).
Unless exempt under 2 CFR Sec. 25.110, all applicants must:
(a) Be registered in the CCR prior to submitting an application or
plan;
(b) Maintain an active CCR registration with current information at
all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application
or plan under consideration by the Agency; and
(c) Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan it submits
to the Agency.
(5) Transparency Act Reporting. All recipients of Federal financial
assistance are required to report information about first-tier
subawards and executive compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
So long as an entity applicant does not have an exception under 2 CFR
section 170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary processes and
systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the
applicant receive funding. See 2 CFR section 170.200(b).
(6) 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.
(7) 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 guaranteed loan to be
provided to a borrower is $25 million.
(8) 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.
(9) Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications.
The maximum amount of grant funds that will be made available for an
eligible
[[Page 2952]]
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.
(10) 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 for Fiscal Year
2012. 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 must 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.
For the purpose of this Notice, and in addition to meeting the
small business size determination as defined under small business in 7
CFR 4280.103, rural small business applicants must demonstrate that the
majority (i.e. 51 percent or more) of their past 3 years' annual
receipts from their business operation are derived from a rural area.
If the rural small business applicant has not engaged in business
operations for the past 3 years, than information for as long as the
rural small business applicant has been in business must be submitted.
To ensure that there is sufficient information for the Agency to make
this determination; rural small business applicants, as part of their
application requirements in 7 CFR 4280.116 (b)(v)(A), should list the
physical address, total annual receipts and number of employees for
each urban or rural location. The Agency will make this determination
for rural small business applicants that do not have any annual
receipts (new businesses only) on the location of the rural small
business applicant.
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 2012 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
containing all parts necessary for the Agency to determine applicant
and project eligibility, to score the application, and to conduct the
technical evaluation, as applicable 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 http://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 http://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 http://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
Complete applications submitted under this Notice must be received
by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time on the applicable date as identified in the DATES
section of this Notice, in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2012
funds. Any application received after 4:30 p.m. local time on the
applicable date, regardless of the postmark on the application, will
not be considered for Fiscal Year 2012 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 is headquartered. 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.
(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 2012. A renewable energy system application
cannot be submitted in Fiscal Year 2012 if a REAP feasibility study
grant application for the same renewable energy system is submitted in
Fiscal Year 2012 and vice versa.
Applicants may only submit one renewable energy system feasibility
study grant for Fiscal Year 2012 funds.
Applicants may only submit one energy audit grant application and
one renewable energy development
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assistance grant application for Fiscal Year 2012 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). Any required environmental review must be completed in
full prior to obligation of funds or the approval of the application.
(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.
(7) Applications from cooperatives. In recognition of the
International Year of Cooperatives, the Agency encourages cooperatives
to submit applications for Fiscal Year 2012.
V. Program Provisions
This section of the Notice identifies the provisions of 7 CFR 4280,
subpart B 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 4280.121 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 4280.160 apply to
guaranteed loans for renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year 2012, 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 1 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 4280.182 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 2011 Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
If an applicant submitted an application for funding in Fiscal Year
2011 and that application was determined eligible but was not funded,
the Agency will consider that Fiscal Year 2011 application for funding
in Fiscal Year 2012 as provided in this section.
(1) Written request. An applicant must submit a written request for
the Agency to consider its Fiscal Year 2011 application for Fiscal Year
2012 funds.
(i) For a guarantee loan and grant combination application, both
the lender and grant applicant must submit the written request to the
Agency in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2012 funds.
(ii) 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.
(iii) Written requests to consider Fiscal Year 2011 applications
for Fiscal Year 2012 funds may be submitted at any time during Fiscal
Year 2012, up to and including 4:30 p.m. local time on March 30, 2012,
to be considered for Fiscal Year 2012 funds. Written requests received
after this time and date will not be accepted by the Agency and the
applicant's Fiscal Year 2011 application will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2012 funds.
(2) Revisions/change in score to Fiscal Year 2011 applications. If
an applicant plans to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year 2011
application or if the required current financial statements results in
a change to the application's score (even if no other revisions to the
Fiscal Year 2011 application are planned), a new application meeting
the requirements of this Notice must be submitted in order to be
considered for Fiscal Year 2012 funds and a new submission date of
record will be established.
(3) No revisions/changes in score to Fiscal Year 2011 applications.
If an applicant does not plan to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year
2011 application and the required current financial statements do not
result in a change to the application's score, a new application is not
required and the submission date of record remains unchanged from its
original Fiscal Year 2011 submittal 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
[[Page 2954]]
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 eligible project
cost.
Example: A hybrid project contains a wind and solar photovoltaic
components. The wind system will cost $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 may distribute the remaining funds to a lower
scoring application. Before this occurs, the Agency will provide the
applicant of the higher scoring application the opportunity to reduce
the amount of the applicant's grant request to the amount of funds
available. If the applicant agrees to lower its grant request, the
applicant must certify that the purposes of the project will be met and
provide the remaining total funds needed to complete the project. At
its discretion, the Agency may also elect to allow the remaining funds
to be carried over to the next fiscal year rather than selecting a
lower scoring application or distributing funds 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: January 11, 2012.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-755 Filed 1-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P