Small Towns
Policy
The Rural Energy for America Program provides loans and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or energy efficiency improvements.
Eligible recipients
- Agricultural producers
- Small businesses in areas with populations of fewer than 50,000
- Private for-profit entity
- Tribal corporation or business
- Electric utility
- Cooperative
Eligible Projects
Funds can be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems and the construction of energy efficiency improvements such as:
- Biomass: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels
- Geothermal for electric generation
- Hydropower below 30 megawatts
- Hydrogen
- Small and large wind generation
- Small and large solar generation
- Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation
- 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 electric irrigation motor
- Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment
