Daily Research Sheets

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stated that it is seeking public feedback from concerned individuals, including future consumers and stakeholders, to aid in implementing a proposed Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program. USDA collects written input and will have a public listening event on April 22, 2021, to ensure that a representative group of viewpoints is understood.

“When we invest in developing alternative clean energy sources, we are investing in restoring the middle class in rural America by providing good-paying jobs,” stated USDA Deputy Under Secretary in charge of the Rural Development, Justin Maxson. “To achieve this aim, we must place rural communities at the center of climate change and climate-smart strategies from the outset, which starts by gathering input from a wide range of voices.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (PL116-260) dedicated $10 million to USDA to create a demonstration initiative that would offer financial aid to remote areas to help them develop clean energy. The aim of this request for details as well as the stakeholder listening session is to get feedback on the Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program choices. The new initiative would leverage distributed energy systems, advances, and/or strategies to meet the nation’s vital energy requirements and fight climate change while promoting environmental justice, social equality, and economic prosperity.

On Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT, an online stakeholder listening event will be conducted

The following subjects are open to public comment:

Purposes, priorities, metrics, and expectations for the program;

Communities, residencies, business, and private companies are both qualified candidates, members, and associates.

Technologies that are eligible involve, but are not limited to, generation, storage, controllers, and grids.

Options to quantify and optimize the advantages of sustainable energy systems for environmental justice, racial equality, and economic opportunity in remote areas; and Future effect of the pilot program and renewable energy systems more generally on any of the following: racial equity, environmental justice, and economic opportunity.

Rural Growth offers grants and loans to increase employment prospects further, build jobs, and enhance the standard of life for millions of Americans residing in rural areas under the Biden-Harris Presidency. In rural, tribal, as well as high-poverty communities, this assistance funds capital projects, economic growth, healthcare, municipal services such as classrooms, public protection, and health care, as well as high-speed internet connectivity.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), commonly referred to as the Agriculture Department, is a federal administrative department in charge of creating and enforcing federal legislation in the areas of agriculture, forestry, rural economic growth, as well as food. Its goals include meeting the needs of industrial farming and livestock food development, promoting agricultural trade and productivity, ensuring food protection, protecting natural resources, fostering rural communities, and working to stop hunger in the U.S. and around the world.