USDA is changing the application process for the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, to simplify applications and protect taxpayer dollars. Under a final rule issued by USDA’s Rural Business Cooperative Service, applicants will have to complete and operate their energy projects before applying. That means producers and rural small businesses will need documented information showing actual energy savings, costs, and system performance. The rule also makes multi-location projects and certain technology applications ineligible. USDA says it will use a single national competition process to simplify administration and prioritize projects with verifiable results. The department also plans to launch an online application portal designed to reduce paperwork and shorten application and review times. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the changes will restore integrity and stability to REAP. USDA says the rule also discourages solar and wind projects on cropland and seeks to prevent taxpayer-supported projects from using components from foreign adversaries.
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