[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 135 (Monday, July 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57385-57386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15426]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket #: RBS-22-BUSINESS-0029]


Notice of Processing Timeline Change for the Rural Energy for 
America Program for Fiscal Year 2024

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Business- Cooperative Service (the Agency) is 
issuing a notice of the Agency's intention to remove the self-imposed 
restriction that all Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 applications that are 
submitted under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) prior to 
June 30, 2024, and were not funded in the national unrestricted pooling 
competitions, must be withdrawn. The Agency is also updating its 
approach for application reviews. This Notice also outlines the 
Agency's prioritization of Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies 
(UT) in National Office competitions for FY 2024.

DATES: Applicable July 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You are encouraged to contact your United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) State Energy Coordinator 
well in advance of the application deadline to discuss your project and 
ask any questions about the application process. Contact information 
for State Office Energy Coordinators can be found at www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf.
    Program guidance and application forms may be obtained at 
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/energy-programs. To 
submit an electronic application via grants.gov, follow the 
instructions for the REAP funding announcement located at 
www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Burns, Program Management 
Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department 
of Agriculture, 774-678-7238 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Extension for REAP FY 2024 Applications

    The Agency published two funding opportunity notices and a 
correction notice in the Federal Register for REAP for Fiscal Years 
2023 and 2024. The first funding notice was published December 16, 2022 
(87 FR 77059). The second funding notice was published March 31, 2023 
(88 FR 19239), and the correction notice was published May 31, 2023 (88 
FR 34823). The second funding notice and the correction notice are 
applicable to applications received on or after April 1, 2023 (FY 
2024). The two notices state that obligations will take place through 
September 30, 2024, and complete and eligible applications which were 
not funded in the national unrestricted pooling must be withdrawn.
    Due to the continued overwhelming response of the funding 
opportunity, the Agency continues to experience longer than anticipated 
turnaround times. The Agency recognizes this may negatively affect 
applicants and, to provide equitable treatment, the self-imposed 
deadline on the national unrestricted pooling competitions for FY 2024 
will be extended. The Agency will continue processing FY 2024 
applications, those received through June 30, 2024, until December 31, 
2024. Unlike many prior years, National Office pooling of Unrestricted 
Funding is estimated to occur within the first quarter of the 2025 
calendar year.
    Applications received by June 30, 2024, that remain incomplete on 
January 1, 2025, will be withdrawn. Unfunded applications from the 
national competitions will not be moved into the FY 2025 funding cycle 
and must be withdrawn. Those applicants may submit a new application to 
compete in FY 2025 competition(s) if they have not already started 
their project or incurred project costs.

Agency Approach for Application Reviews

    To maximize efficiency and address the backlog of applications, the 
Agency will use the following processing procedures effective on the 
publication date of this Notice.

Completeness Application Review

    If an application does not meet the definition of complete 
application, according to 7 CFR 4280.103, the Agency will send a 
notification identifying those parts of the application that are 
incomplete and no further action will be taken on the application.
    The Agency will give 15 business days for applicants to provide the 
missing documentation. The application will be withdrawn, and the 
applicant notified if the required documentation is not received within 
the 15 business days or if the information submitted by the deadline is 
insufficient.
    Application processing will continue if all documentation is 
received timely and is sufficient to meet the definition of a complete 
application.

Eligibility Review for Complete Applications

    The Agency will review for applicant and project eligibility and 
financial and technical feasibility. If the Agency requires additional 
clarification or documentation, the Agency will send a notification and 
give 15 business days for the applicant to provide the information.
    The application will be withdrawn, and the applicant notified if 
the required information is not received within the 15 business days or 
if the information submitted by the deadline is insufficient.
    Application processing will continue if all information is received 
timely and is sufficient for determining applicant and project 
eligibility. The applicant will then receive a notification of the 
eligibility review outcome.

Prioritization of Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies (UT)

    To carry out the Inflation Reduction Act's intention to have set 
aside competition for UT, the Agency anticipates holding National 
Office competitions, exclusively for projects proposing the use of UT. 
These National Office competitions are anticipated to be held through 
the end of FY 2024, as needed.
    In addition, the FY 2024 National Office Unrestricted pooled 
competition will first consider funding project proposing the use of UT 
in accordance with the March 31, 2023, REAP NOSA (88 FR 19239). This 
Unrestricted National Office pooled competition is

[[Page 57386]]

anticipated to be held within the first quarter of calendar year 2025.

Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15426 Filed 7-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P