[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 64 (Thursday, April 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18549-18550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06341]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 64 / Thursday, April 2, 2020 /
Notices
[[Page 18549]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Funding Availability, Loan Application
Procedures, and Deadlines for the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP)
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA).
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting letters of
intent for loan applications under the Rural Energy Savings Program
(RESP), announcing the application process for those loans and
deadlines for applications from eligible entities for funding in fiscal
year (FY) 2020, until expended or further notice.
DATES: To be considered for this funding, applications under this NOSA
will be accepted immediately. The RESP application process is described
in detail pursuant to 7 CFR part 1719. In brief, the RESP is comprised
of two steps:
Step 1: To be considered for financing, an Applicant seeking
financing must submit a Letter of intent, in an electronic PDF (PDF)
format not to exceed 10 Megabytes (10 MB) by electronic mail (email) to
[email protected]. No paper letters of intent will be accepted. The Letters
of intent will be queued as they are received. If it advances program
and policy goals, RUS may consider loan applications from Eligible
entities that have submitted Letters of intent under prior funding
announcements but were not invited to proceed with a loan application.
Step 2: A RESP applicant that has been invited in writing by RUS to
proceed with the loan application, will have up to ninety (90) days to
complete and submit to RUS the documentation for a complete loan
application. The ninety (90) day timeframe will begin on the date the
RESP applicant receives RUS' Invitation to proceed. If the deadline to
submit the completed loan application falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day. The loan
application package must be marked with the subject line ``Attention:
Christopher McLean, Assistant Administrator for the Electric Program;
RESP Loan Application.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Coates, Electric Program, Rural
Utilities Service, Rural Development, United States Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1568, Room 0257-S,
Washington, DC 20250-1510; Telephone: (202) 260-5415; Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: These loans are made available
under the authority of Section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002, as amended, and the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.
General Information
The purpose of the RESP is to help rural families and small
businesses achieve cost savings by providing loans to qualified
consumers through eligible entities to implement durable cost-effective
energy efficiency measures pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 8107a(a) of the RESP
authorizing statute. The Secretary may use this funding to allow
eligible entities to offer energy efficiency loans to customers in any
part of their service territory in accordance to Sec. 7 CFR part 1719.
The Administrator may approve loans proposing to include these eligible
activities for entities currently in the queue provided they still meet
all of the application requirements. Additionally, subject to
appropriations, funding for projects may be used to replace
manufactured housing units with another manufactured housing unit if
the replacement would be more cost effective in saving energy.
The Agency encourages applications that will support
recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help
improve life in rural America, See, www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity.
Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable
results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable
economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships
and innovation. Key strategies include: Achieving e-Connectivity for
rural America, developing the rural economy, harnessing technological
innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of
life.
Application and Submission Information
Application Requirements: All requirements for submission of an
application under the RESP are subject to 7 CFR part 1719.
Application Materials/Submission: The Letter of intent must be
submitted by the Applicant in an electronic PDF (PDF) format not to
exceed 10 Megabytes (10 MB) by electronic mail (email) to
[email protected]. No paper letters of intent will be accepted. The
completed loan application package must be submitted following the
instructions that will be outlined in the RUS Invitation to proceed to
the RESP Applicant. The loan application package must be marked with
the subject line ``Attention: Christopher McLean, Assistant
Administrator for the Electric Program; RESP Loan Application.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), OMB approved this information collection under OMB Control
Number 0572-0151. This NOSA contains no new reporting or recordkeeping
burdens under OMB control number 0572-0151 that would require approval
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and
employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are 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
[[Page 18550]]
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 Agency or
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA
through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 (English) or (800)
845-6136 (Spanish).
Individuals who wish to file a Program Discrimination Complaint
must complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF). To
file a program discrimination complaint, you may obtain a complaint
form by sending an email to [email protected] or calling (866) 632-
9992 to request the form. A letter may also be written containing all
of the information requested in the form. Send the completed complaint
form or letter by mail to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director,
Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410, or email at [email protected]. Additional information
can be found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-programdiscrimination-complaint-usdacustomer.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Chad Rupe,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06341 Filed 4-1-20; 8:45 am]
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