[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
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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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