The USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service on Oct. 16 issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the Rural Energy for America Program. The notice applies to fiscal year (FY) 2025, 2026 and 2027 awards. 

REAP provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Renewable biomass, including anaerobic digesters and biogas, wind, solar, small hydro-electric, ocean, geothermal, or hydrogen derived from any of those sources are among the renewable energy sources eligible for the program.

According to the NOFO, collective funding for REAP is expected to be at least $600 million over the three years, including approximately $180 million funding allocated by the Inflation Reduction Act for each year along with approximately $20 million per year in IRA underutilized energy technology set aside funding. 

There are two application deadlines for FY 2025 and three deadlines each for both FY 2026 and 2027 funding. The deadlines for FY 2025 applications are set for Dec. 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025, with the deadlines for FY 2026 applications set for Sept. 30, 2025; Dec. 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026, and the deadlines for FY 2027 applications scheduled for Sept. 30, 2026; Dec. 31, 2026, and March 31, 2027. 

A full copy of the NOFO is available on Federal Register website.