[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81178-81179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27576]


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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), a Rural Development 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) 2021, 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 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 portable 
display format (PDF) 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 4121 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 7 U.S.C. 8107a (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 https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural/rural-prosperity. 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 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 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 Cr-

[[Page 81179]]

[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. 2020-27576 Filed 12-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P