Deadline: 13 December 2017
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking applications for its “Assistance to High Energy Cost Communities” has announced the availability of up to $10 million in competitive grants to assist communities with extremely high energy costs.
The grant funds may be used to acquire, construct, or improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities where the average annual residential expenditure for home energy exceeds 275% of the national average.
This program helps to offset extremely high household energy costs in areas where local conditions cause energy costs to exceed 275 percent of the national average. This type of assistance increases economic opportunity and the quality of life in rural communities nationwide by maintaining a seamless electric network for all Americans, regardless of where they live.
To finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of facilities serving eligible communities, including:
- Electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, including:
- Equipment, materials and activities
- Land or right-of-way acquisition, professional expenses, engineering and permitting costs
- Natural gas distribution and storage facilities, including equipment, materials and activities
- Petroleum product storage and handling facilities, including equipment, materials and activities
- Renewable energy facilities, including solar, wind, hydropower or biomass technologies used for on- or off-grid:
- electric power generation
- water or space heating
- process heating and power
- Backup or emergency power generation or energy storage technology, including generation equipment installed on consumer premises
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
- Award Floor: $100,000
Eligibility Criteria
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Individuals
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- State governments
- Independent school districts
- Private institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
How to Apply
Applicants should submit a completed application form via email at the address given on the website.
Eligible Country: United States
For more information, please visit Grants.gov.