Documented performance becomes part of the application
USDA announced a final rule with a comment period for the Rural Energy for America Program on October 2. The release says projects must be fully built, operational and demonstrate performance before applying. That changes what applicants need to document, rather than guaranteeing funding for every completed installation.
REAP provides loan guarantees and grants for eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses. USDA describes a national competition process and says multilocation projects and specified technology applications become ineligible. It also describes restrictions intended to discourage solar and wind systems on cropland.
A rule announcement is not an open funding window
Applications with Form 1940-1 signed by both applicant and agency before the regulation effective date continue under applicable conditions. Commonly managed or owned entities are treated together for the relevant aggregate annual funding limit. Separating projects into related entities is not described as a way around the cap.
The announcement says annual notices will provide opening and closing dates for applications. A planned online portal is not proof that applications are open today. Review the actual regulation and later notices before committing money to a project on the assumption that a grant will reimburse it.