What is the Rural Energy for America Program?
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant program provides grants up to 50% through the USDA. The grants are available to eligible small business owners and farms of varying sizes to cover the cost of energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy systems.
There are two more guaranteed 50% funding cycles, with deadlines June 30 and September 30, 2024. Unless Congress authorizes additional funding, the REAP Grant will decline to 25% of the project’s cost.
Who’s eligible for a REAP grant?
Agricultural producers must be an entity engaged in the production of agricultural products where at least 50 percent of their gross income comes from agricultural operations. If applying as a farm, there are no size or geographical restrictions.
Rural small businesses (breweries, car dealerships, hotels, warehouses, coffee shops, retail stores, etc.) are also eligible for REAP, as defined below.
- Private for-profit entity (sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation)
- A Cooperative (including those qualified under Section 501(c)(12) of IRS Code)
- An electric utility that provides service to rural consumers and operates independent of direct government control
- A Tribal corporation or other Tribal business entities
Look up your business’s NAICS industry code here, and then look on this table to see if your business falls under the size cap for that industry.
What projects are eligible?
- Solar panels
- Equipment upgrades
- Labor
- Engineering, etc.
Projects that share a meter with a residence must prove their business usage exceeds residential usage, and then subtract the percentage of residential usage from eligible project costs. The REAP grant is taxable income for the applicant business.
How to Apply
The applicant must apply before construction or major payments begin.
Contact Yes Solar to Learn More
Yes Solar Solutions has been the leading local solar company for 15 years, founded and owned by Stew and Kathy Miller. As the only NABCEP-accredited solar company in North Carolina, Yes has earned a reputation for integrity, quality, and responsiveness.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation solar consultation. Call us at (919) 459-4155 today, and let’s start working together on getting you to a place of energy independence!