Rural Energy for America Program

(a) In general Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Program) after Program; (2) in subsection (b)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by inserting, cost savings, after savings; (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking and at the end; (C) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (G) the potential of the proposed program to meaningfully improve the financial conditions of the agricultural producer or rural small business.; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i), by inserting, agricultural cooperatives with less than 2,500 employees, before and rural; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (F), by striking and at the end; (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: (G) the potential improvements to the financial conditions of the agricultural producer or rural small business; and; and (C) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking $25,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000; (4) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively, and inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Streamlined application process The Secretary shall develop a streamlined application process, including within each tier described in subsection (c)(4), under which an entity may apply for a grant under subsection (b), financial assistance under subsection (c), or a bundled application for a project with components eligible under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A).; (5) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking Outreach and inserting Outreach, technical assistance, and education; (B) by striking that adequate and inserting the following: that— (1) adequate; (C) in paragraph (1) (as inserted by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (2) technical assistance is provided to entities seeking to apply for a grant or financial assistance under the Program; and (3) outreach, technical assistance, and education is provided to recipients of grants and other financial assistance under the Program relating to integrating renewable energy projects on land shared with crops or livestock.; (6) in subsection (g), (as so redesignated by paragraph (4) of this section)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (4) Reserve fund (A) In general Of the funds obligated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent shall be deposited in a reserve fund in the Treasury and reserved for use in accordance with this subparagraph. (B) Use of funds (i) In general The Secretary shall use amounts reserved under subparagraph (A) to provide grants to support projects using underutilized renewable energy technologies. (ii) Costs The amount of the grant for such a project shall not exceed 25 percent of the installation or maintenance costs of the project for the year in which the grant is awarded. (C) Frequency of solicitations to fund The Secretary shall carry out at least 2 solicitations for applications for grants from the reserve fund in each fiscal year. (D) Reallocation Any funds reserved under subparagraph (A) that remain unobligated 1 year after the end of the fiscal year in which made available under subparagraph (A) shall be reallocated to carry out the program established under this section. (E) Definition of underutilized renewable energy technologies The term underutilized renewable energy technologies means renewable energy technologies for which have been expended not more than 20 percent of the average of the total amounts made available under this section for the 5 fiscal years most recently ending before the date of the enactment of this paragraph.; and (7) by adding at the end the following: (h) Project diversity In approving grant or loan guarantee applications under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, there is diversity in the types of projects approved for grants or loan guarantees to ensure that as wide a range as possible of technologies, products, and approaches are assisted.. (b) Conforming amendments Section 9007 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended by striking subsection (f) each place it appears and inserting subsection (g).

(a) In general Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Program) after Program; (2) in subsection (b)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by inserting, cost savings, after savings; (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking and at the end; (C) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (G) the potential of the proposed program to meaningfully improve the financial conditions of the agricultural producer or rural small business.; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i), by inserting, agricultural cooperatives with less than 2,500 employees, before and rural; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (F), by striking and at the end; (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: (G) the potential improvements to the financial conditions of the agricultural producer or rural small business; and; and (C) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking $25,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000; (4) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively, and inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Streamlined application process The Secretary shall develop a streamlined application process, including within each tier described in subsection (c)(4), under which an entity may apply for a grant under subsection (b), financial assistance under subsection (c), or a bundled application for a project with components eligible under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A).; (5) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking Outreach and inserting Outreach, technical assistance, and education; (B) by striking that adequate and inserting the following: that— (1) adequate; (C) in paragraph (1) (as inserted by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (2) technical assistance is provided to entities seeking to apply for a grant or financial assistance under the Program; and (3) outreach, technical assistance, and education is provided to recipients of grants and other financial assistance under the Program relating to integrating renewable energy projects on land shared with crops or livestock.; (6) in subsection (g), (as so redesignated by paragraph (4) of this section)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (4) Reserve fund (A) In general Of the funds obligated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent shall be deposited in a reserve fund in the Treasury and reserved for use in accordance with this subparagraph. (B) Use of funds (i) In general The Secretary shall use amounts reserved under subparagraph (A) to provide grants to support projects using underutilized renewable energy technologies. (ii) Costs The amount of the grant for such a project shall not exceed 25 percent of the installation or maintenance costs of the project for the year in which the grant is awarded. (C) Frequency of solicitations to fund The Secretary shall carry out at least 2 solicitations for applications for grants from the reserve fund in each fiscal year. (D) Reallocation Any funds reserved under subparagraph (A) that remain unobligated 1 year after the end of the fiscal year in which made available under subparagraph (A) shall be reallocated to carry out the program established under this section. (E) Definition of underutilized renewable energy technologies The term underutilized renewable energy technologies means renewable energy technologies for which have been expended not more than 20 percent of the average of the total amounts made available under this section for the 5 fiscal years most recently ending before the date of the enactment of this paragraph.; and (7) by adding at the end the following: (h) Project diversity In approving grant or loan guarantee applications under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, there is diversity in the types of projects approved for grants or loan guarantees to ensure that as wide a range as possible of technologies, products, and approaches are assisted.. (b) Conforming amendments Section 9007 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended by striking subsection (f) each place it appears and inserting subsection (g).