Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance | RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2023

Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2023

The Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2023) is a mandatory grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), specifically through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It is designed to support early-stage technical assistance work that helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses understand energy use, identify efficiency improvements, and evaluate renewable energy projects before they commit significant capital. In practical terms, the funding is aimed at planning-level and assessment-level activities, such as conducting professional energy audits and developing feasibility studies or other development assistance that can move a renewable energy concept toward a financeable, buildable project.

This opportunity sits at the intersection of agriculture, business and commerce, and energy, and it is listed under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 10.868. The overarching intent is to reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency, and accelerate adoption of renewable energy systems in rural areas by paying for the analysis and technical groundwork that applicants often struggle to fund on their own. By covering these up-front services, the program helps reduce uncertainty around project performance, expected savings, system sizing, payback periods, and overall project viability, which can make it easier for end users to pursue implementation funding later.

The eligible applicant types listed for this grant are government and quasi-government entities and certain educational institutions. Specifically, eligibility includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and private institutions of higher education. These eligible entities typically apply to deliver audit services, feasibility studies, and related development assistance on behalf of agricultural producers and rural small businesses in their service areas, rather than applying to directly purchase and install equipment. The structure supports a model where a local or regional organization with technical capacity organizes the assistance, procures qualified professionals, and ensures deliverables meet program requirements.

The opportunity was created on December 16, 2022, with an original application closing date of February 1, 2023. USDA anticipated making around 30 awards under this notice, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $100,000 per grant. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as mandatory, meaning it is tied to funding authority established in law rather than being purely discretionary from year to year.

While the public listing you provided points applicants to the formal notice for full details ("See notice available at 2022-27359.pdf (govinfo.gov)"), the headline takeaway is that this is a technical assistance and project-development focused program under USDA Rural Development that helps rural businesses and agricultural operations make informed energy decisions. It funds the professional analysis work that precedes construction or installation, such as audits and renewable energy development support, with awards up to $100,000 and an expected total of about 30 grants under this particular cycle.

• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 16, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 01, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2023

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