Notice2024-15426
Notice of Processing Timeline Change for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Year 2024
Primary source
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Published
July 15, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Business-Cooperative Service
Abstract
The Rural Business- Cooperative Service (the Agency) is issuing a notice of the Agency's intention to remove the self-imposed restriction that all Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 applications that are submitted under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) prior to June 30, 2024, and were not funded in the national unrestricted pooling competitions, must be withdrawn. The Agency is also updating its approach for application reviews. This Notice also outlines the Agency's prioritization of Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies (UT) in National Office competitions for FY 2024.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 135 (Monday, July 15, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 135 (Monday, July 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57385-57386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15426]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS-22-BUSINESS-0029]
Notice of Processing Timeline Change for the Rural Energy for
America Program for Fiscal Year 2024
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Business- Cooperative Service (the Agency) is
issuing a notice of the Agency's intention to remove the self-imposed
restriction that all Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 applications that are
submitted under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) prior to
June 30, 2024, and were not funded in the national unrestricted pooling
competitions, must be withdrawn. The Agency is also updating its
approach for application reviews. This Notice also outlines the
Agency's prioritization of Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies
(UT) in National Office competitions for FY 2024.
DATES: Applicable July 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You are encouraged to contact your United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) State Energy Coordinator
well in advance of the application deadline to discuss your project and
ask any questions about the application process. Contact information
for State Office Energy Coordinators can be found at <a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf">www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf</a>.
Program guidance and application forms may be obtained at
<a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/energy-programs">www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/energy-programs</a>. To
submit an electronic application via <a href="http://grants.gov">grants.gov</a>, follow the
instructions for the REAP funding announcement located at
<a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Burns, Program Management
Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department
of Agriculture, 774-678-7238 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8bc8dbecf9eae5fff8cbfef8efeaa5ece4fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6e2d3e091c0f001a1d2e1b1d0a0f40090118">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Extension for REAP FY 2024 Applications
The Agency published two funding opportunity notices and a
correction notice in the Federal Register for REAP for Fiscal Years
2023 and 2024. The first funding notice was published December 16, 2022
(87 FR 77059). The second funding notice was published March 31, 2023
(88 FR 19239), and the correction notice was published May 31, 2023 (88
FR 34823). The second funding notice and the correction notice are
applicable to applications received on or after April 1, 2023 (FY
2024). The two notices state that obligations will take place through
September 30, 2024, and complete and eligible applications which were
not funded in the national unrestricted pooling must be withdrawn.
Due to the continued overwhelming response of the funding
opportunity, the Agency continues to experience longer than anticipated
turnaround times. The Agency recognizes this may negatively affect
applicants and, to provide equitable treatment, the self-imposed
deadline on the national unrestricted pooling competitions for FY 2024
will be extended. The Agency will continue processing FY 2024
applications, those received through June 30, 2024, until December 31,
2024. Unlike many prior years, National Office pooling of Unrestricted
Funding is estimated to occur within the first quarter of the 2025
calendar year.
Applications received by June 30, 2024, that remain incomplete on
January 1, 2025, will be withdrawn. Unfunded applications from the
national competitions will not be moved into the FY 2025 funding cycle
and must be withdrawn. Those applicants may submit a new application to
compete in FY 2025 competition(s) if they have not already started
their project or incurred project costs.
Agency Approach for Application Reviews
To maximize efficiency and address the backlog of applications, the
Agency will use the following processing procedures effective on the
publication date of this Notice.
Completeness Application Review
If an application does not meet the definition of complete
application, according to 7 CFR 4280.103, the Agency will send a
notification identifying those parts of the application that are
incomplete and no further action will be taken on the application.
The Agency will give 15 business days for applicants to provide the
missing documentation. The application will be withdrawn, and the
applicant notified if the required documentation is not received within
the 15 business days or if the information submitted by the deadline is
insufficient.
Application processing will continue if all documentation is
received timely and is sufficient to meet the definition of a complete
application.
Eligibility Review for Complete Applications
The Agency will review for applicant and project eligibility and
financial and technical feasibility. If the Agency requires additional
clarification or documentation, the Agency will send a notification and
give 15 business days for the applicant to provide the information.
The application will be withdrawn, and the applicant notified if
the required information is not received within the 15 business days or
if the information submitted by the deadline is insufficient.
Application processing will continue if all information is received
timely and is sufficient for determining applicant and project
eligibility. The applicant will then receive a notification of the
eligibility review outcome.
Prioritization of Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies (UT)
To carry out the Inflation Reduction Act's intention to have set
aside competition for UT, the Agency anticipates holding National
Office competitions, exclusively for projects proposing the use of UT.
These National Office competitions are anticipated to be held through
the end of FY 2024, as needed.
In addition, the FY 2024 National Office Unrestricted pooled
competition will first consider funding project proposing the use of UT
in accordance with the March 31, 2023, REAP NOSA (88 FR 19239). This
Unrestricted National Office pooled competition is
[[Page 57386]]
anticipated to be held within the first quarter of calendar year 2025.
Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15426 Filed 7-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
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