RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP)

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. Funded through the 2018 Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, the program supports technologies such as solar, wind, and biomass, and implements a tiered application process based on project cost.

• REAP provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for the installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades. Supported renewable energy technologies include biomass, geothermal, hydropower, hydrogen, wind, solar, and ocean energy. Efficiency improvements cover HVAC upgrades, insulation, lighting, refrigeration, and the transition from diesel to electric irrigation motors.
• Funding for REAP is derived from mandatory annual allocations of $50 million starting in FY 2014 and discretionary annual funding of $20 million through FY 2023. The Inflation Reduction Act further provided approximately $1.7 billion and increased the maximum federal cost share for grants from 25 percent to 50 percent.
• The program utilizes a three-tiered application process based on project costs: Tier 1 for projects up to $80,000, Tier 2 for projects between $80,000 and $200,000, and Tier 3 for projects $200,000 or more. The application and oversight process is most simplified for Tier 1 and becomes more comprehensive for subsequent tiers.
• REAP offers competitive grants to eligible entities—including state, tribal, or local governments, land-grant colleges, and rural electric cooperatives—to provide energy audits and renewable energy development assistance to rural businesses and producers. Grant recipients are limited to using no more than 5 percent of the grant for administrative expenses.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2023). RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP). https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program-REAP.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP). 2023. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program-REAP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP) |date=24 February 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program-REAP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2023rural, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP)}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program-REAP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }