Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants in Michigan

Goal/purpose: The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grant and guaranteed loan combinations to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and helps meet the Nation's critical energy needs. It also aims to reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to climate change impacts.

Additional applicant eligibility criteria: Applicants must be agricultural producers or rural small businesses. Any project proposing to produce, procure, supply, or market hemp components must have a valid license from an approved state, Tribal, or Federal plan.

Project eligibility: Eligible projects include Renewable Energy Systems (RES) and Energy Efficiency Improvements (EEI). Projects must meet eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.113, 4280.150, 4280.137, and 7 CFR 5001.106 through 5001.108. Ineligible project costs are defined in the respective CFR sections.

Application process: Applicants must submit one original, hardcopy or electronic application to the appropriate RD Energy Coordinator for the State where the project will be located, or via grants.gov. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and compete in quarterly windows. Complete applications must address all environmental considerations and include Transparency Act Reporting and optional race, ethnicity, and gender information.