USDA High Energy Cost Grant Program

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) High Energy Cost Grant Program provides financial assistance for the improvement of energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities serving eligible rural communities with home energy costs that are over 275% of the national average.
USDA is now accepting new applications for $15.5 million in competitive grants under the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2010. Grants ranging from $75,000 to $5 million will be awarded to businesses, nonprofit entities, states, local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes. These grants will be used for on-grid and off-grid renewable energy projects serving eligible communities. USDA will award approximately 20 grants with the $15.5 million provided through this notice of funding availability.
To be eligible to receive a grant under the program:
1. You must be an eligible applicant
2. The grant project must serve an eligible extremely high-energy-cost community
3. The proposed project must improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving an eligible community
4. The administrative costs of the project must not exceed 4% of grant funds.
For more information, please visit the USDA Web site.