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USDA Accepting Letters Of Interest For Affordable Clean Energy Program
USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is allowing applicants more time to submit letters of interest for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program.

Applicants must submit letters of interest via Grants.gov and have until Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time to submit them. USDA’s PACE program will be administered on a rolling basis. Entities are encouraged to submit proposals as soon as they are ready. USDA will invite applicants that meet program requirements to submit a full application.

An application guide and a fillable letter of interest template will be available to download at Powering Affordable Clean Energy PACE Program/Rural Development (usda.gov).

USDA is also rescheduling several previously announced webinars on programs to advance affordable clean energy in rural areas across the nation. The new dates and times are:

USDA’s PACE Application Webinars

Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. ET Register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_yTUw6QaXQ8qLJiiSpdhH7A

Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. ET Register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_OWeQS-HUTC69S36SV7rJSw

The webinars are intended to help applicants learn how to apply for financial assistance to advance clean, affordable and reliable electric energy in rural America.

In the event interested parties are not able to attend at the planned time, the webinars will be recorded. The recordings will be available on USDA Rural Development’s website.

In May 2023, the Department announced $10.7 billion in funding available under USDA’s Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) and Empowering Rural America (New ERA) programs. Eligible organizations may apply for loans, grants, loan modifications and partially forgivable loans.

The Department is making $1 billion of this funding available in partially forgivable loans under the USDA’s PACE program. The loans will help finance large-scale solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower and energy storage projects.

Renewable-energy developers and electric service providers, including municipals, cooperatives and investor-owned and Tribal utilities, are eligible for the funding.