Notice2023-15897
Empowering Rural America (New ERA) 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
July 27, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as "RUS" or "the Agency" announced its intent to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI) for applications under the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023, in the Federal Register. In addition, the NOFO also announced the eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the criteria that RUS will use to assess New ERA Applications. The New ERA funds will be used to assist Eligible Entities in achieving the greatest reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions while advancing the long-term resiliency, reliability, and affordability of rural electric systems. This Notice announces an update on how to submit an LOI, additional information that must be submitted and an extension of time to submit LOIs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48429-48430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15897]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[DOCKET #: RUS-23-ELECTRIC-0005]
Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of the opening of the online application
window for the New ERA Program.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to
as ``RUS'' or ``the Agency'' announced its intent to solicit Letters of
Interest (LOI) for applications under the Empowering Rural America (New
ERA) Program in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023,
in the Federal Register. In addition, the NOFO also announced the
eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the
criteria that RUS will use to assess New ERA Applications. The New ERA
funds will be used to assist Eligible Entities in achieving the
greatest reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions while advancing
the long-term resiliency, reliability, and affordability of rural
electric systems. This Notice announces an update on how to submit an
LOI, additional information that must be submitted and an extension of
time to submit LOIs.
DATES: The Agency will begin accepting LOIs for the New ERA Program
beginning at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 31, 2023, and until
11:59 p.m. ET on September 15, 2023. Letters of Interest will not be
accepted after 11:59 p.m. ET on September 15, 2023.
ADDRESSES: All LOIs must be submitted to RUS electronically at
<a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a>. Additional information and resources are available at
<a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program</a>. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
funding for Rural Development website is located at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act">https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McLean, Assistant
Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service, Rural
Development, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, STOP 1568, Washington, DC 20250-1560; Telephone: 202-690-
4492. Email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f1c02611d0b611d1a1c61061d0e611e3a2a3c3b2620213c0f3a3c2b2e61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1e4d53304c5a304c4b4d30574c5f304f6b7b6d6a7771706d5e6b6d7a7f30797168">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: The New ERA Program is authorized under the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-169, ``IRA''), Subtitle C, Section
22004.
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Utilities Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Empowering Rural America (New ERA)
Program.
Announcement Type: Announcement of the Opening of the On-Line
Application Window for the New ERA Program.
Assistance Listing Number: 10.758.
Funding Opportunity Number: RUS-NewERA-2023
LOI submission information: RUS will accept electronic submission
of LOIs through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. RUS will not accept paper, facsimile, or
email transmission.
I. Background
On August 16, 2022, The Biden Harris Administration and the United
State Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which
authorized the New ERA Program. The goal of the New ERA Program is to
provide financial assistance to Eligible Entities to achieve the
greatest reductions in GHG emissions through the cooperatives'
voluntary transformation of rural electric systems in a way that
promotes resiliency and reliability of rural electric systems and
affordability for their members.
On May 16, 2023, the Agency published a NOFO in the Federal
Register (88 FR 31218) that solicited LOIs for applications under the
New ERA Program and announced the application process as well as
provided deadlines for applications from Eligible Entities. The NOFO
also informed potential Applicants that the Agency would finalize the
specific requirements of submitting an LOI through the on-line
application window by a separate notice in the Federal Register and on
the RUS website at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program</a>. In response to
stakeholder requests, RUS is extending the deadline for accepting LOI
submissions from August 31, 2023, to September 15, 2023, to provide
stakeholders more time to prepare their LOIs.
II. Letter of Interest Requirements and Submission
A. Letter of Interest Requirements
The Agency has added the requirement to submit an Application for
Federal Assistance (SF 424) to the list of items needed for a complete
LOI in order to accept the LOI's through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. In addition to the
SF 424, Applicants will still be required to provide the information
included in Section D.2.i. of the NOFO that published in the Federal
Register on May 16, 2023, (88 FR 31218). The RUS New ERA website will
include an LOI Guide at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program</a>. The LOI
Guide will provide details on the submission of the LOI on <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>,
including how to provide attachments. In addition, the LOI Guide will
detail how Applicants should use the RUS geospatial mapping tool to
draw the service areas associated with each New ERA project and then
upload Shapefiles to <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> as part of an LOI Application. The LOI
Guide will also indicate where to attach the additional requirements
for the LOI, such as a copy of the Applicant's balance sheet and income
statements.
B. Letter of Interest Submission
1. Application of General Assistance. Prior to official submission
of an LOI, Applicants may request general assistance from the Agency if
such
[[Page 48430]]
requests are made prior to September 8, 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 General
Field Representative (GFR). Please note that RUS GFRs shall not provide
strategic submission or 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. Responses to questions regarding program
provisions and this funding announcement will be posted to the New ERA
FAQ page. Information on contacting an RUS GFR can be found at <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#386b75166a7c166a6d6b16716a7916694d5d4b4c5157564b784d4b5c59165f574e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f1a2bcdfa3b5dfa3a4a2dfb8a3b0dfa084948285989e9f82b184829590df969e87">[email protected]</span></a>.
2. Letters of Interest Submission Deadlines: The Agency will begin
accepting LOIs for the New ERA Program beginning at 11:59 a.m. ET on
July 31, 2023, and until 11:59 p.m. ET on September 15, 2023.
The LOIs must be submitted electronically thru <a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a>. The
New ERA funding opportunity in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> can be found by searching for
the funding opportunity number found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this Notice. Please review the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> website at <a href="https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html">https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html</a> for instructions on the
process of registering an organization as soon as possible to ensure
that all electronic application deadlines are met. <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> will not
accept applications submitted after the deadline.
III. Program Requirements
To be eligible for an award, applications must meet all of the
requirements contained in the NOFO published in the Federal Register on
May 16, 2023, at 88 FR 31218. Information can also be found at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program</a>.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-15897 Filed 7-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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