Creating Opportunity for Rural America

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Creating Opportunity for Rural America

• Rural Development

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RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENT GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAMS (AKA 9006)
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Section 9006

• NOFA Published in Register 3/28/05
• Application due June 26, 2005
• 22.8 Million Budget Authority in 2005
• 11.4 Million RES/EE Grants
• 11.4 Million RES/EE Guaranteed Loans
• Guarantee funds not obligated by 7/31/05 made
  available for grants

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IMPORTANT WHEN CONSIDERING APPLYING

• Read the NOFA
• Pay close attention to definitions
• Make sure you are an eligible applicant
• Make sure project is eligible
• RD Grant funds may be used to fund 25 of
  eligible project costs
• VERY IMPORTANT!!!
• Follow the application process identified in the
  NOFA!!!

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APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

• Agriculture Producer or Rural Small Business.
• Agriculture Producer Individual or entity
  directly engaged in production of agriculture
  products.
• 50 or more of gross income derived from the
  operation.
• Small Agricultural Producer-Market Value of
  product less than 1mm from previous year

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APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY (CONT)

• Small Rural Business
• Individual, partnership, corporation,
  cooperatives including coops and electrical
  utilities provided they are not subsidized by
  Govt. (Refer to Small Bus. Definition pg. 15698
  of NOFA)
• SBA small business size standards by NAICS
• Very Small Business 15 employees and 1 million
  in annual gross receipts.

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APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY (CONT)

• US Citizen or legally admitted as permanent
  resident
• Entity must be at least 51 owned by US Citizen
  or legally admitted permanent resident
• Cannot be Delinquent on Federal Debt
• Project and Business located in rural area
• Demonstrate financial need

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Project Eligibility

• Purchase of Renewable Energy System
• Make Energy Efficiency Improvements
• Owner/Operator of propose project
• Viable Projects Not for Research
• Must be Financially and Technically Feasibility
• Feasibility Studies required if request over
  50,000
• Technical Report by PE if request over 50,000
• Financial and Technical Feasibility Studies
  completed by qualified 3rd party

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TYPES OF ELEGIBLE PROJECT

• Biomass
• Geothermal
• Hydrogen
• Solar
• Wind
• Energy Efficiency Improvements to commercial
  buildings

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ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS

• Post Application Purchase of Equipment
• Post Application Construction/Project
  Improvements (Except Residential)
• Energy Audits
• Permit Fees
• Professional Services Fees (Except for
  Application)
• Feasibility Studies, Business Plans

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ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS

• Retrofitting and Construction of New Facility
  (only when facility is used for same purpose,
  same size, and based upon energy audit provide
  greater energy savings than improving existing
  facility.

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GRANT FUNDING

• Grant funds will not exceed 25 of total eligible
  project costs
• Other 75 of costs must be from non-federal
  source and VERIFIED
• 3rd party in-kind cannot exceed 10 of the 75
  match requirement

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GRANT FUNDING (CONT)

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Minimum 2500
• Maximum 500,000
• Energy Efficiency Improvement Systems
• Minimum 2500
• Maximum 250,000
• Maximum amount of grant assistance to one
  applicant
• 750,000

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APPLICATION AND DOCUMENTATION

• Application process very detailed
• Follow the requirements contained in the NOFA
• Environmental Review Process very important
• Technical Report Requirements detailed in NOFA

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TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

• There are 10 Technology areas identified in the
  NOFA
• Read and Document only the Technical Requirements
  that pertain to your project.

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MY RECOMMENDATIONS

• Follow the Application requirements of the NOFA
• If you have questions concerning the application
  process or eligibility of the project call me
• Submit Application prior to the final due date of
  June 26, 2005 (Why you ask???)
• Pay close attention to Scoring Criteria in NOFA

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Further Information

• www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill
• www.nrel.gov/usda/
• www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia/rbcs-NOFA.html

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Thank you.

• DONALD C. HOLLIS
• Rural Business - Cooperative Service
• 1229 SE 3rd Street, Suite A
• Pendleton, OR 97801
• [phone] extension 129
• don.hollis_at_or.usda.gov