Deadline: 06-Jul-21
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), herein referred to as RUS or the Agency, has announced its High Energy Cost Rural Communities Grant Program (HECG).
The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance for a broad range of energy facilities, equipment and related activities to offset the impact of extremely high home energy costs on eligible communities.
The grants help communities provide basic energy needs by financing energy infrastructure supporting rural prosperity and job creation.
Grant funds may not be used to pay utility bills or to purchase fuel.
Nor may grant funds be used for education and outreach except for training that is directly related to energy facilities financed in all or part by this program.
Upgrades to existing facilities are also eligible.
Grant projects under this program must serve an eligible community and not be for the primary benefit of an individual applicant, household, or business.
Additional points will be awarded for:
- Projects that assist USDA High Poverty Areas;
- Projects that serve small rural communities;
- Projects that incorporate commercially proven waste heat recovery technology;
- Projects that result in not less than a 25 percent increase in energy efficiency for generation assets, this includes repowering aging diesel plants;
- Projects that address extraordinary circumstances affecting the eligible high energy cost community such as a disaster, imminent hazard, unserved areas, and other economic hardship; and
- Projects that serve Substantially Underserved Trust Areas.
Funding Information
- The total amount of funds available for high energy cost grants under this notice is $10 million. If more than $10 million becomes available to the program, inclusive of rescissions or additional appropriations, the Agency may make awards in excess of $10 million in total.
- For High Energy Cost Grants, the maximum amount of grant assistance that will be considered for funding per grant application under this notice is $3,000,000. The minimum amount of grant assistance that will be considered for funding per grant application under this notice is $100,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- An eligible applicant is any one of the following:
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- A legally-organized for-profit or nonprofit organization such as, but not limited to, a corporation, association, partnership (including a limited liability partnership), cooperative, or trust;
- A sole proprietorship;
- A State or local government, or any agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, including a municipal utility or public power authority;
- An Indian tribe1, a tribally-owned entity, and or Alaska Native Corporation;
- An individual or group of individuals applying on behalf of unincorporated community associations, and not for the primary benefit of a single household or business; or
- Any of the above entities located in a U.S. Territory or other area authorized by law to participate in RUS programs or under the RE Act.
- All applicants must demonstrate the legal authority and capacity to enter into a binding grant agreement with RUS at the time of the award and to carry out the proposed grant funded project according to its terms to be an eligible applicant.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333294