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REAP RESoverview

The REAP Program provides grants of up to 25% of project costs for farms and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems. Eligible technologies include wind, solar, biomass, and geothermic systems. In 2009 over $50 million in grants were awarded in amounts from $500 to $20,000. Applications are accepted twice yearly with the next deadline in June 2010. Projects are evaluated based on energy generated, environmental benefits, and technical and financial feasibility.

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Cam Hamilton
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85 views2 pages

REAP RESoverview

The REAP Program provides grants of up to 25% of project costs for farms and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems. Eligible technologies include wind, solar, biomass, and geothermic systems. In 2009 over $50 million in grants were awarded in amounts from $500 to $20,000. Applications are accepted twice yearly with the next deadline in June 2010. Projects are evaluated based on energy generated, environmental benefits, and technical and financial feasibility.

Uploaded by

Cam Hamilton
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rural Development – Oregon 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Ste.

801
Portland, OR 97232
Business & Cooperative Programs
www.RuralOregon.biz Phone: (503) 414-3366
or TDD: (503) 414-3387
www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/biz.htm Fax: (503) 414-3397

 RENEWABLE ENERGY  Grants for farms & rural businesses


REAP Program (Rural Energy for America Program)
Grants for renewable energy projects – wind, solar, biomass, biofuels, micro-hydro, geothermal, & anaerobic digesters
The REAP program provides grants (& loan guarantees) to rural small businesses & agricultural producers for up
to 25% of the cost to purchase & install renewable energy generation systems. Energy efficiency projects (which
are discussed in a separate information sheet) are also eligible for assistance under this program.
Funds available
In FY2009, over $50 million in REAP grants were awarded. Over $50 million may be available in FY2010.
Grant size: $500,000 maximum ($2,500 minimum) per project – cannot exceed 25% of total project cost.
 Preferred size: Grants of ≤ $20,000 are strongly favored.
Eligible applicants
Rural small businesses – “Rural” means the project is not located in a Census-defined Metropolitan Statistical
Areas (i.e., outside the Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, & Bend MSA’s). “Small” is as defined by SBA
and depends on business type – typically < 500 employees & revenue < $6.5 million. SBA defines “small”
power generators as producing < 4 million MW-hrs/yr; biofuel manufacturers with < 1,000 employees.
Agricultural producers (including nurseries & dairies) – individuals or business entities receiving at least 50%
of gross income from agriculture. (The SBA-“small business” limitation does not apply to ag producers.)
Preference is given to “very small businesses” – those with < 15 employees & < $1 million in annual receipts.
The applicant must have a demonstrable financial need for the grant assistance.
Majority ownership must be held by US citizens or permanent residents.
Nonprofits & public projects are not eligible.
Eligible purposes
Purchase and installation in a rural location of a renewable energy generating system, limited to the following:
1. Biomass, bio-energy – producing fuel (e.g., biodiesel, ethanol), thermal energy, or electric power from a
biomass source (crops, trees, wood, plants, & their residues and fats, oils, & greases, but excluding
animal waste, paper, & unsegregated solid waste)
2. Biomass, anaerobic digesters – producing thermal energy or electric power via anaerobic digestion using
animal waste & other organic substrates
3. Geothermal, electric generation – electric power from the thermal potential of a geothermal source
4. Geothermal, direct use – producing thermal energy directly from a geothermal source
5. Hydrogen – renewable energy systems using hydrogen as an energy transport medium
6. Solar, small – electric projects with rated power ≤ 10 kW; thermal projects with rated storage ≤ 240 gallons
7. Solar, large – electric projects with rated power >10 kW; thermal projects with rated storage >240 gallons
8. Wind, small – systems with a ≤ 100 kW-rated wind turbine & with a generator hub height of ≤ 120 feet
9. Wind, large – systems with a >100 kW-rated wind turbine
10. Hydroelectric – electric power from micro-hydro projects
11. Ocean – energy generation from tidal, wave, current, & thermal sources – but not for R&D technologies
Strong preference is given for technology that is “commercially available” – i.e., that has a proven operating
history and has an established design, installation, & service industry. Pre-commercial technologies – i.e.,
those that have emerged through the R&D process and have commercial potential – may qualify, but require
substantially more documentation. Experimental or R&D projects are not eligible.
The applicant must own & control the system, though a qualified third-party may be engaged to operate it.
Authorized uses
• Renewable energy machinery & equipment – purchase & installation (including reimbursement for these
costs only if the costs were incurred after submitting your application).

Committed to the future of rural communities.


(4/25/2010)
“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.”
REAP Renewable Energy Grant Program Overview Page 2

• Renewable energy real estate improvements – materials & construction (including reimbursement for these
costs only if the costs were incurred after submitting your application).
• Feasibility studies, technical/engineering reports, permits, professional fees, & business plans (including
reimbursement for such costs whether incurred before or after application date).
Recent examples. In FY2009, 38 Oregonians received renewable energy grants – for numerous solar PV projects
(5-20 kW), a small wind (20 kW) project, a large wind (3 MW) project, & for biomass processing equipment.
Application process
“Simplified” applications are allowed for projects seeking ≤ $50,000 grant & with ≤ $200,000 total project
cost, and only for proposals using commercially-available technologies.
Grants are awarded twice a year via a national competition. USDA only accepts applications during certain
periods. Applications are now being accepted. The FY2010 deadline is June 30, 2010.
Additional requirements
Matching funds – 75% of the project cost must come from non-Federal funds. “In-kind” contributions from
third parties of up to 10% of the project cost may be counted toward the match.
Feasibility study – a detailed, project-specific study by an independent consultant is required on projects costing
> $200,000.
Technical report – a detailed, project-specific report, including engineering drawings & process flow charts, by
a professional engineer (PE) is required. (Projects costing < $200,000 may be exempt from PE requirement.)
Established market for energy to be generated – projects to be interconnected with an electric utility must have
an interconnection agreement (or letter of intent) or power purchase agreement at the time of application.
Interim financing – Grant funds are typically disbursed when the project is complete, tested, & certified operational.
Priority Point System
REAP applications are competitively chosen for funding based on the following weighted selection criteria:
Max Points Grant selection criteria
15 Energy replaced, saved, or generated (Up to 15 pts for net-metered; 10 pts for generation projects)
10 Environmental benefits – the project helps meet state environmental goals (true for Oregon)
10 Commercial availability of the system (max points for improvements with a 5+ year warranty)
10% of 35pts Technical merit score – qualifications of the project team
5% of 35pts Technical merit score – agreements & permits
10% of 35pts Technical merit score – energy or resource assessment
30% of 35pts Technical merit score – design & engineering
5% of 35pts Technical merit score – project development schedule
20% of 35pts Technical merit score – financial feasibility
5% of 35pts Technical merit score – equipment procurement
5% of 35pts Technical merit score – equipment installation
5% of 35pts Technical merit score – operations & maintenance
5% of 35pts Technical merit score – decommissioning
15 Readiness (max points if all other funding sources have already given written commitment)
10 “Smallness” of applicant (max points if <$1 MM gross revenue for business, <$200,000 for farms)
5 “Small” project (i.e., ≤ $50,000 grant & ≤ $200,000 project) using simplified application
5 No previous REAP award to applicant within last 2 years
10 Time for project to repay cost of investment (max points if simple payback in <4 years)
Shaded points are awarded by independent technical review committees; other points awarded by USDA.
Helpful links
Additional REAP and other energy funding program information is on-line at: http://energy.ruraloregon.biz
For more information, for an easy-to-use application template, or to get on our REAP notification list:
REAP Program Coordinator Don Hollis Pendleton 541-278-8049 x129 [email protected]
State Office Jeff Deiss Portland 503-414-3367 [email protected]

(4/25/2010)

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