The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it has up to $200 million in guaranteed loan funds available for investments in renewable energy systems and energy efficient improvements by agriculture producers and rural small businesses.

Deadline on availability is August 31.

Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Loan and Grant Program to encourage agricultural producers and small rural businesses to create renewable and energy efficient systems.

The funds will be available to support a wide range of technologies encompassing biomass (including anaerobic digesters), geothermal, hydrogen, solar, and wind energy, as well as energy efficiency improvements.

The funds will be set aside through August 31 for renewable energy and energy efficiency guaranteed loans. Any funds not obligated under the guarantee loan program by August 31, will be reallocated to the competitive grant program as of that date.

More information on rural programs is available on the Section 9006 Renewable Energy Systems webpage.

7/22/2005