Notice2023-12848
Amended Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 16, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced its intent to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI) for Applications under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023, in the Federal Register. In addition, the NOFO announced the Application process and deadlines, and the criteria that RUS will use to evaluate applications under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program. These loan funds will be made to qualified PACE Applicants to finance power generation Projects for Renewable Energy Resource (RER) systems or Energy Storage Systems (ESS) that support RER Projects. The PACE Program has $1,000,000,000 available in appropriated funds under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). This notice is making amendments to ensure applicants know they are required to establish a Verified eAuthentication ID, to inform applicants that they are eligible for the PACE Program even if they are subject to a "cooling off period" under the Rural Electrification Act, and to notify applicants that the Agency will provide general assistance to applicants through the RUS' General Field Representatives (GFRs) prior to LOI submissions.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 116 (Friday, June 16, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39394-39395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12848]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS-23-ELECTRIC-0003]
Amended Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Powering Affordable
Clean Energy (PACE) Program
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; amendment.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), announced its intent to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI) for
Applications under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program
in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023, in the
Federal Register. In addition, the NOFO announced the Application
process and deadlines, and the criteria that RUS will use to evaluate
applications under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program.
These loan funds will be made to qualified PACE Applicants to finance
power generation Projects for Renewable Energy Resource (RER) systems
or Energy Storage Systems (ESS) that support RER Projects. The PACE
Program has $1,000,000,000 available in appropriated funds under the
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). This notice is making amendments
to ensure applicants know they are required to establish a Verified
eAuthentication ID, to inform applicants that they are eligible for the
PACE Program even if they are subject to a ``cooling off period'' under
the Rural Electrification Act, and to notify applicants that the Agency
will provide general assistance to applicants through the RUS' General
Field Representatives (GFRs) prior to LOI submissions.
DATES: Letters of Interest (LOIs) can be submitted beginning at 11:59
a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on June 30, 2023, until 11:59 a.m. ET September
29, 2023. An applicant that is invited by RUS to proceed with the loan
Application will have 60 days, or a time agreeable to the Agency, to
complete and submit a loan Application beginning from the date the
Invitation to Proceed is emailed to the PACE Applicant. If the deadline
to submit the completed Application falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a
Federal holiday, the Application is due the next business day. RUS
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to extend the deadline upon
the written request of the applicant if the applicant demonstrates to
the satisfaction of the Administrator that exceptional circumstances
exist to warrant the extension.
ADDRESSES:
Letters of Interest (LOI) Submissions. All LOIs must be submitted
to RUS electronically through an on-line application window. The Agency
will finalize the specific requirements of submitting the LOI through
the on-line application window by notice in the Federal Register and
the RUS website at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program</a> on or before
June 30, 2023.
Application Submissions. LOI submitters chosen to proceed with the
loan Application must submit a completed loan Application package in
accordance with the instructions provided in the RUS' Invitation to
Proceed.
Other information. Additional information and resources are
available at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program</a>. Information on
IRA Funding for RD is located at the following website: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act#fn">https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act#fn</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher A. McLean, Assistant
Administrator, Electric Program, RUS, RD, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, STOP 1568, Washington, DC 20250-1560; Telephone: 202-690-
4492; Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#efbca2c1bdabc1bdbabcc1a6bdaec1be9a8a9c9b8680819caf9a9c8b8ec1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="53001e7d01177d0106007d1a01127d02263620273a3c3d2013262037327d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Corrections and Amendments
This program was initially announced in the Federal Register on May
16, 2023, in FR Document 2023-10388. As of this publication, the
following changes are being implemented.
1. On page 31239, in the second column, section D.7, is being
amended to add two new paragraphs, (g) and (h), to read as follows:
(g) Prior to accessing the on-line application window to submit an
LOI or an Application, PACE Applicants must obtain a Verified USDA
eAuthentication (eAuth) account for each member of their staff
requiring access to the online application window. If an Applicant or
staff member does not have a Verified eAuth account, then they will
need to create an account or upgrade an existing account. To do so, a
person will need to follow the instructions on the USDA eAuth website
to create a Verified eAuth account or upgrade an existing account from
``unverified'' to ``verified.'' The USDA eAuth website can be found at:
<a href="https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/home">https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/home</a>.
(h) The 120-month or 180-month exclusions referenced in sec. 306B
of the Rural Electrification Act and related regulations do not apply
to financing under this program.
2. On page 31243, in the first column, section I is being amended
to add a new paragraph 9. to read as follows:
9. Application of General Assistance. Prior to official submission
of an LOI, Applicants may request general assistance from the Agency if
such requests are made prior to August 17, 2023. The Agency may provide
general assistance as it is able, and Applicants may request assistance
in the form of general assistance and consultation with an RUS GFR.
Please note that RUS GFRs shall not provide strategic submission or
[[Page 39395]]
strategic LOI advice, and applicants are fully responsible for their
submissions. Assistance may also be requested to Agency staff in the
form of requests to speak at meetings, events, and conferences to
explain program provisions and answer questions about this funding
announcement. Such requests and responses will be posted to the PACE
FAQ page. Information on contacting an RUS GFR can be found here:
<a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/electric-gfr">https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/electric-gfr</a>. For requests regarding
speaking engagements, please email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#71223c5f23355f2324225f3823305f2004140205181e1f0231040215105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d48799fa8690fa868187fa9d8695fa85a1b1a7a0bdbbbaa794a1a7b0b5fab3bba2">[email protected]</span></a>.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-12848 Filed 6-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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