Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

What's the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)?

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Imperial Regional Alliance was awarded a REAP TAG grant to provide technical assistance to Agricultural Producers and Rural Small Businesses applying to REAP.

Fill out the online Client Intake Form to let us know how we can assist you in applying for REAP.

Who can apply for REAP?
  • Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations

  • Small businesses in eligible rural areas

Location Requirements

Agricultural producers may be in either rural or non-rural locations, while small businesses must be located in rural development areas, defined as an area not a city or town with 50,000 or more inhabitants.

You may use the USDA Eligibility Map to check your business address to see if you are in an eligible location.

What can funds be used for?
  • Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels)

  • Geothermal for electric generation or direct use

  • Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation

  • Hydropower below 30 megawatts

  • Small and large wind generation

  • Small and large solar generation

  • Hydrogen

Funds can also be used to buy, build, and install energy efficiency improvements such as:
  • High-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC)

  • Insulation

  • Lighting

  • Cooling or refrigeration units

  • Doors and windows

  • Electric, solar, or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots

  • Switching from a diesel to an electric irrigation motor

  • Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment

Funding Terms
  • Loan guarantees on loans up to 75% of total eligible project costs

  • Grants for up to 50% of total eligible project costs

  • Combined grant and loan guarantee funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs

The loan guarantee percentage is public yearly in a notice in the Federal Register. You can check here: https://www.federalregister.gov/

Download the USDA REAP Flyer:
Interested in applying for a REAP Grant?

Applications are accepted year-round, contact us to learn more about how we can help you apply for loan and grant funding through the USDA REAP Program.

Sean Wilcock
Vice President of Business Development
2415 Imperial Business Park Drive, Suite A
(760) 353-8332
sean@ivedc.com