On Friday, August 6, USDA announced that $3 million in FY2010 funding is available for grants to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems for agriculture producers and rural small businesses.  The grants are part of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  Grant applications must be submitted to your state Rural Development office by 4:30 pm on October 5, 2010.

The grant applications must be from the agricultural producer or rural small business that is the prospective owner of the renewable energy system, not from the entity conducting the feasibility study who is not the owner.  The maximum funding for a single grant is $750,000.

In the application selection process, grants of smaller amounts for small agricultural producers and small rural businesses will be given a higher priority.

More information on the required application contents and process for applying is provided in the Federal Register notice available here.