ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS

The USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) opened a one-year application window on August 6, 2018, offering approximately $100 million in zero-interest loan capital via the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP). These loans allow rural cooperatives to implement energy efficiency measures or transition to renewable energy systems for their members without upfront costs, with the installation costs paid back through monthly electricity bills. Eligible projects include lighting, building envelope upgrades, water and waste efficiency, energy storage devices, and on- and off-grid renewable energy systems, provided the utility can justify the cost-effectiveness for the end-user. The application process involves submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the RUS, which are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the window remaining open through September 2019.

• The USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) provided approximately $100 million in loan capital through the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) starting August 6, 2018, with an application window closing in September 2019.
• RESP loans are zero-interest and require no upfront cost for upgrades, designed so that the combined cost of financing and the reduced electric bill remains lower than the cost of the existing inefficient system.
• Eligible uses for the loan funds include on- and off-grid renewable energy systems, permanently-installed energy storage devices, lighting, water and waste efficiency, and building envelope upgrades, provided cost-effectiveness for the end-user is justified.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2018). ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS. https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS. 2018. https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS |date=2018 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2018access, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2018}, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }