[Federal Register: February 13, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 29)]
[Notices]
[Page 7509-7511]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13fe06-34]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Inviting Applications for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the
availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 to purchase renewable
energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agriculture
producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. The
amount available for competitive grants is $11.385 million.
Approximately $176.5 million in guaranteed loan authority is also
available. Any guarantee loan funds that are not obligated by August 1,
2006, will be pooled and revert to the National Office reserve for
grant use. USDA is currently in the process of evaluating the potential
for a direct loan program to help finance renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects for rural small businesses and agricultural
producers. Therefore, for purposes of FY 2006, funding will be limited
to grants and guaranteed loans.
For renewable energy systems, the minimum grant request is $2,500
and the maximum is $500,000. For energy efficiency improvements, the
minimum acceptable grant request is $1,500 and the maximum is $250,000.
The maximum amount of a guaranteed loan made to a borrower will be $10
million. For FY 2006, the guarantee fee amount is 1.0% (one percent) of
the guaranteed portion of the loan and the annual renewal fee is 0.125%
(one-eighth of one percent) of the guaranteed portion of the loan.
DATES: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct
one competitive grant solicitation in 2006. Applications must be
completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State
Office postmarked no later than May 12, 2006. Grant applications
postmarked after this date will be returned to the applicant with no
action. Any guaranteed loan funds not obligated by August 1, 2006 will
be made available for competitive grants under this notice. Guaranteed
loans will be awarded on a continuous basis. Applications are due to
the National Office for funding consideration by July 3, 2006. In
accordance with RD Instructions 1940-G, all environmental assessments
must be completed prior to submission to the National Office.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications to the USDA Rural Development State
Office in the State where your project is located or, in the case of
rural small businesses, where your business is headquartered. A list of
the Rural Development State Offices and Energy Coordinators addresses
and telephone numbers follow. For further information about this
solicitation, please contact the applicable State Office. This document
is available on our Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html
.
USDA State Rural Development Offices
Alabama
Mary Ann Clayton, USDA Rural Development, Sterling Centre, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3615.
Alaska
Dean Stewart, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7722.
Arizona
Alan Watt, USDA Rural Development, 230 N. First Avenue, Suite 206,
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8769.
Arkansas
Shirley Tucker, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3280.
California
Joseph Choperena, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, 4169, Davis, CA
95616-4169, (530) 792-5826.
Colorado
Linda Sundine, USDA Rural Development, 655 Parfet Street, Room E-100,
Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-2929.
Delaware-Maryland
James Waters, USDA Rural Development, 1221 College Park
[[Page 7510]]
Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3626.
Florida/Virgin Islands
Joe Mueller, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place, P.O. Box
147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3482.
Georgia
J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural Development, 333 Phillips Drive,
McDonough, GA 30253, (678) 583-0866.
Hawaii
Tim O'Connell, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 311, 154
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8313.
Idaho
Brian Buch, USDA Rural Development, 725 Jensen Grove Drive, Suite 1,
Blackfoot, ID 83221, (208) 785-5840, Ext. 118.
Illinois
Patrick Lydic, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A,
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6211.
Indiana
Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development, 2411 N. 1250 W., Deputy, IN 47230,
(812) 873-1100.
Iowa
Teresa Bomhoff, USDA Rural Development, 873 Federal Building, 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4447.
Kansas
F. Martin Fee, USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2744.
Kentucky
Scott Mass, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200,
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7435.
Louisiana
Kevin Boone, USDA Rural Development, 3727 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7960.
Maine
John F. Sheehan, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4,
P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9168.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
Sharon Colburn, USDA Rural Development, 451 West Street, Suite 2,
Amherst, MA 01002-2999, (413) 253-4303.
Michigan
Rick Vanderbeek, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5218.
Minnesota
Lisa Noty, USDA Rural Development, 1408 21st Avenue, Suite 3, Austin,
MN 55912, (507) 437-8247 ext. 150.
Mississippi
G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100
West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-5457.
Missouri
D Clark Thomas, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West,
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0995.
Montana
John Guthmiller, USDA Rural Development, 900 Technology Blvd., Unit 1,
Suite B, P.O. Box 850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2540.
Nebraska
Cliff Kumm, USDA Rural Development, 201 North, 25 Street, Beatrice, NE
68310, (402) 223-3125.
Nevada
Dan Johnson, USDA Rural Development, 555 West Silver Street, Suite 101,
Elko, NV 89801, (775) 738-8468, Ext. 112.
New Hampshire (See Vermont)
New Jersey
Michael Kelsey, USDA Rural Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor
North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700, Ext. 7751.
New Mexico
Eric Vigil, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4952.
New York
Scott Collins, USDA Rural Development, The Galleries of Syracuse, Suite
357, 441 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202-2541, (315) 477-6409.
North Carolina
H. Rossie Bullock, USDA Rural Development, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (910) 739-3349 Ext. 4.
North Dakota
Dale Van Eckhout, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 208,
220 East Rosser Avenue, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701)
530-2065.
Ohio
Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 507,
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2424.
Oklahoma
Jody Harris, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater,
OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1036.
Oregon
Don Hollis, USDA Rural Development, 1229 SE. Third Street, Suite A,
Pendleton, OR 97801-4198, (541) 278-8049, Ext. 129.
Pennsylvania
J. Gregory Greco, USDA Rural Development, One Credit Union Place, Suite
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2289.
Puerto Rico
Luis Garcia, USDA Rural Development, IBM Building, 654 Munoz Rivera
Avenue, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5091, Ext. 251.
South Carolina
R. Gregg White, USDA Rural Development, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)
765-5881.
South Dakota
Gary Korzan, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 210, 200
4th Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1142.
Tennessee
Will Dodson, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1350.
Texas
Daniel Torres, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102101,
South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9756.
Utah
Richard Carrig, USDA Rural Development, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State
[[Page 7511]]
Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, (801) 524-4328.
Vermont/New Hampshire
Lyn Millhiser, USDA Rural Development, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6069.
Virginia
Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural Development, Culpeper Building, Suite 238,
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1594.
Washington
Chris Cassidy, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Suite
B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7707.
West Virginia
Cheryl Wolfe, USDA Rural Development, 75 High Street, Room 320,
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4882.
Wisconsin
Mark Brodziski, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7615, Ext. 131.
Wyoming
Milton Geiger, USDA Rural Development, Dick Cheney Federal Building,
100 East B Street, Room 1005, P.O. Box 820, Casper, WY 82602, (307)
672-5820 Ext. 4.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This solicitation is issued pursuant to
Section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(2002 Act), which established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
Efficiency Improvements Program. The program is designed to help
agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs
and consumption and help meet the Nation's critical energy needs. The
2002 Act mandates the maximum percentage Rural Development will provide
in funding for these types of projects. Rural Development grants under
this program will not exceed 25 percent of the eligible project costs.
Rural Development guaranteed loans will not exceed 50 percent of the
eligible project costs. Rural Development combined grant and guaranteed
loan funding packages will not exceed 50 percent of eligible project
cost, with the grant portion not to exceed 25 percent of eligible
project costs.
Information required to be in the application package is contained
in 7 CFR 4280.111. Awards are made on a competitive basis using
specific evaluation criteria contained in 7 CFR 4280.112(e). To ensure
that projects are accurately scored by USDA, applicants are expected to
tab and number each evaluation criteria and include in that section,
its corresponding supporting documentation and calculations according
to 7 CFR 4280.112. Only projects that have completed the environmental
review process according to 7 CFR 4280.114(d), demonstrated project
eligibility according to 7 CFR 4280.108, and demonstrated technical
feasibility will be eligible for funding consideration.
State Offices will submit eligible funding requests, with the state
score sheets, including supporting documentation to the National Office
for funding consideration. The National Office will form a Second Tier
Review Committee comprised of representatives from Rural Development
State Offices, U.S. Forest Service National Office staff, the
Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and
Environmental Protection Agency National Office staff. The Second Tier
Review Committee will conduct independent reviews of proposals based on
the grant evaluation criteria contained in 7 CFR 4280.112(e). These
reviews will be conducted based on the information provided in the
State Office request for funding. The Second Tier Review Committee will
only award points when properly organized supporting documentation and
fully understandable calculations are provided.
Final scores and ranking will be based on the reviews completed by
the Second Tier Review Committee. To reduce scoring bias by technology
and scale, a standard statistical normalization process will be applied
to all scores. All applicants will be notified by the Rural Development
State Offices of the Agency's decision on the awards.
This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under Number 10.755 and is subject to the provisions of
Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation
with State and local officials.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork
burden has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570-0050.
Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived
from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means
for communication of program information (braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director,
Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
``USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.''
Dated: February 2, 2006.
Jackie J. Gleason,
Acting Administrator, Business and Cooperative Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-1923 Filed 2-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P