Use USDA REAP grants to finance a new farm

What is REAP?

USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offers grants and guaranteed loans to support renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades to advance America’s energy independence. The program will cover up to 50 percent of the cost of installing new technology, such as a mixed-flow dryer, that saves energy.

Since REAP’s inception, more than $700 million has been awarded to thousands of farms and small rural businesses. This includes $361 million in grants and loans for more than 2,900 renewable energy systems. Collectively, these systems are expected to generate more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough to power more than 5.5 million homes for a year.

What qualifies?

Eligible energy efficiency improvement projects include:

What AGI products are eligible?

Eligible products may include technologies such as AGI mixed flow grain dryers (https://www.aggrowth.com/en-us/all-products/Conditioning/mixed-flow-dryers) and AGI BinManager^® grain monitoring systems (https://www.aggrowth.com/en-us/farm-brands-overview/Bin-Monitoring/binmanager).

What are the deadlines for implementing the program?

The upcoming application deadlines are:

How much can a farmer receive?

Farmers can receive up to 50 percent of eligible costs for a project that reduces energy use or produces renewable energy.

Renewable Energy System Grant Amounts: $2,500 to $1,000,000 Maximum
Energy efficiency grant amounts: $1,500 to $500,000 maximum

How can AGI help?

To apply for a REAP grant and streamline the process, farmers will need to engage a third-party grant provider or work with an AGI dealer who can connect them to a local source. AGI also provides the grant author with the data needed to prove the energy efficiency achieved with the mixed flow dryer or AGI BinManager system.

How do farmers get more information?

REAP website:

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans

How to find a REAP grant writer

AGI recommends that potential grant applicants interview several grant writers and choose the one they are most comfortable with.

Grant authors can be found by searching the USDA REAP website, searching online, or through local AGI dealers. On the USDA REAP website, enter “REAP grant authors” in the search box and a list will be generated by state.