Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants in Michigan

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance (EA/REDA) grant program assists agricultural producers and rural small businesses by providing grants to eligible entities to conduct energy audits and provide renewable energy development assistance, helping rural communities reduce energy costs, decrease consumption, and address critical energy needs.

Applicants may submit only one EA grant application and one REDA grant application per fiscal year, and scopes of work cannot combine EA and REDA activities into a single application. If an application includes both activities, it will be determined ineligible. Applicants that have received prior grants under REAP must demonstrate satisfactory progress on existing awards. Non-federal entities receiving awards are governed by the Build America, Buy America Act requirements.

Eligible projects must assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses through targeted energy audits or renewable energy development assistance in eligible rural areas. For energy audit grants, grantees must require the participating agricultural producer or rural small business to pay a minimum of 25 percent of the audit cost, which the grantee retains to cover project expenses.

Applicants must submit complete hardcopy or electronic applications to the USDA Rural Development State Office Energy Coordinator in Michigan or electronically via Grants.gov by 4:30 p.m. local time on the application deadline. Applications are evaluated and scored according to criteria established under 7 CFR 4280.155 and compete in a national competition.