# Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/rus-newera-2023-empowering-rural-america-new-era-program/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/349588

> Rural Utilities Service offered grants of up to $970 million to the applicants described in the notice. Applications closed on September 15, 2023.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RUS-NEWERA-2023 |
| Agency | Rural Utilities Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | September 15, 2023 |
| Award ceiling | $970 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.758 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

RUS will accept Letters of Interest from the following: An electric cooperative described in section 501(c)(12) or 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is or has been a RUS or Rural Electrification Administration (REA) electric loan borrower pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act) or is serving a predominantly Rural Area (or a wholly or jointly owned subsidiary of any the preceding listed such electric cooperatives).

## What the grant funds

The New ERA Program provides Rural Utilities Service (RUS) with $9.7 billion in appropriated loan and grant funds under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In keeping with the statutory authority for the program, RUS will utilize the New ERA funds to assist Eligible Entities to achieve the greatest reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions while advancing the long-term resiliency, reliability, and affordability of rural electric systems. As provided in Section 22004 of IRA, no one Applicant may receive an amount equal to more than 10 percent of the total $9.7 billion of budget authority appropriated under Section 22004, which equals $970 million. The Applicant’s Portfolio of Actions may cost more than $970 million as long as the funded application uses less than $970 million in budget authority. Funds can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to eligible generation and transmission systems, to purchase, build, or deploy renewable energy, zero-emission systems, carbon capture storage systems, or to purchase renewable/ clean energy. The following types of financial assistance can be requested: • Loan: The interest rate for loans will be set either at the U.S. Treasury rate or at a fixed rate as low as 2 percent. Treasury interest rates are set at the time funds are drawn. A zero percent interest rate is available to refinance debt related to stranded fossil assets or for projects that serve predominantly distressed, disadvantaged, or energy communities (as defined in the funding notice). • Grant: Applicants can apply for a grant only that equals no more than 25 percent of the total project cost. Applicants would have to demonstrate the ability to meet the remaining 75 percent of the project cost. • Loan and Grant Combinations: Applicants can request loan and grant combination financing for proposed projects. • Loan Refinancing or Loan Modification: In addition to loan and grant combinations, applicants may propose to refinance debt related to a stranded fossil assets if the applicant utilizes the refinancing savings to fund eligible clean energy project(s). Letters of Interest will be scored and ranked on the greatest reduction in cost-per-unit measure of greenhouse gases. Projects must be reliable, resilient (able to recover quickly following an unexpected disruption), and affordable.

## Questions people ask

### Is RUS-NEWERA-2023 still open?

No. It closed on September 15, 2023. A newer notice is open: RUS-ARC-2026, closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left).

### Who can apply for Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program?

Rural Utilities Service accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program?

Closed September 15, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $970 million each.

### Who has won Affordable Rural Cooperative grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Great River Energy, Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc, Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc. The program made 54 awards worth $7.2 billion in that time.