ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Assistance

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) describes the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), a USDA initiative providing zero-interest loans to rural electric cooperatives and utilities to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for their members.

• The Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), administered by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), provides zero-interest loans to rural electric cooperatives and other rural utilities. These loans are intended to help these utilities launch or expand energy efficiency financing programs for their members, allowing them to implement energy efficiency measures or transition to renewable energy systems to reduce monthly electric bills.
• On August 6, 2018, the RUS opened a one-year application window for approximately $100 million in loan capital. To access this funding, the application process must be initiated before September 2019.
• RESP loans can be used for various cost-effective energy measures, provided the utility can justify the cost-effectiveness for the end-user. Eligible measures include lighting, building envelope upgrades, HVAC systems, water heaters and other property-attached appliances, water and waste efficiency improvements, permanently installed energy storage devices, on- and off-grid renewable energy systems, and electric charging stations.
• The application process for RESP consists of four steps: first, submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) with basic utility information and a plan for fund usage; second, a first-come, first-serve review of LOIs by the RUS; third, an invitation to selected applicants to submit a full application; and fourth, the submission of the full application, for which EESI and past recipients provide guided assistance.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2018). ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Assistance. https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI_Pamphlet.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Assistance. 2018. https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI_Pamphlet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Assistance |date=October 2018 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI_Pamphlet.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2018access, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY SAVINGS Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Assistance}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Access_Clean_Energy_Savings-EESI_Pamphlet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }