Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

An Effective Practice

Description

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is a renewable energy and energy efficiency program for agricultural producers and rural small businesses. REAP grants can provide up to $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements or $500,000 for renewable energy systems (not exceeding 25% of total project cost). Loans guarantees can go up to $25 million. REAP also has special grant funds to share the cost of energy audits, feasibility studies, and renewable development assistance. The program is designed to assist farmers, ranchers, and rural small business.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Rural Energy for America Program is to increase clean energy production, efficiency savings, economic activity, and new jobs in rural areas.

Results / Accomplishments

From 2003-2008 the USDA awarded over $140 million in grants and $97 million in loan guarantees. These funds went toward 2,034 projects in all 50 states, and are estimated to leverage $2 billion in capital investments in rural communities. Projects include small and large wind turbines, anaerobic digesters to transform manure into energy, ethanol and biodiesel facilities, solar electric systems, and energy efficient improvements at farms and small businesses.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Primary Contact
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
1-800-670-6553
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html
Topics
Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability
Environmental Health / Built Environment
Community / Community & Business Resources
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Source
FarmEnergy.org
Date of publication
2008
Date of implementation
2002
Geographic Type
Rural
Location
USA
For more details
http://farmenergy.org/success-stories/reap
Target Audience
Adults

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Related Content for: Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.