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This report by RMI analyzes the role of rural energy cooperatives as a collaborative model to accelerate the global transition to clean energy, focusing on overcoming barriers to energy access and affordability in rural areas.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) describes the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which provides zero-interest loans to eligible entities to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification improvements for rural households and small businesses. The document includes a side-by-side comparison of current law and a May 2024 House Agriculture Committee discussion draft, highlighting proposed expansions to eligible borrowers, the inclusion of manufactured home replacements, and the introduction of grants for technical assistance and repairs.

This research paper examines on-bill financing as a tool to expand access to energy efficiency, clean energy, and electrification, particularly for low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households and rural communities. It highlights how specific program designs—such as tying obligations to utility meters and using payment history instead of credit scores—can overcome traditional financial barriers and address racial and income disparities in clean energy adoption.

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.

This guide from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines the availability of zero-interest loans for rural cooperatives through the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

This briefing describes the proposed Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), a legislative initiative designed to provide low-interest loans to rural homeowners for energy efficiency improvements via on-bill financing through the USDA's Rural Utilities Service.