U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Tuesday that her department will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy For America Program (REAP), Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs.
Recipients will have 30 days to review and voluntarily revise their project plans to align with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025.
The Trump administration says this process gives rural electric providers and small businesses the opportunity to refocus their projects on expanding American energy production while eliminating Biden-era DEIA and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals.
USDA Rural Development is informing awardees individually about this opportunity. Respondents will be asked to answer several questions and provide a short narrative description of any proposed changes.
In a news release, USDA said, “This updated guidance reflects a broader shift away from the Green New Deal and the so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and toward practical energy investments that prioritize the needs of rural communities.”
USDA
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