HR6287-119

2. Rural Energy for America Program Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended— in subsection (a)— by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately; in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking The Secretary and inserting the following: The Secretary in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Program) after Program; and by adding at the end the following: In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of carrying out projects funded by grants and other financial assistance under the Program. in subsection (b)— in paragraph (2)— in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end; by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G); and by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: a producer cooperative; a nongovernmental organization; and in paragraph (3)— in subparagraph (E), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: the potential of the proposed program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide other climate benefits. in paragraph (4)— in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and indenting appropriately; by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking A recipient and inserting the following: A recipient by adding at the end the following: A grant awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to carry out 1 or more of the activities described in subparagraph (A). in subsection (c)— in paragraph (1)(A), by adding after and below the end the following: in paragraph (2)— in subparagraph (F), by striking and at the end; by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); and by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: the potential of the renewable energy system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and result in other climate benefits; and in paragraph (3)(A), by striking 25 percent and inserting 50 percent; by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (e), (f), and (i), respectively; by inserting after subsection (c) the following: The Secretary shall develop a streamlined application process, including within each tier described in subsection (c)(4), under which an entity may apply for a grant under subsection (b), financial assistance under subsection (c), or a bundled application for a project with components eligible under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A). in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— in the subsection heading, by striking Outreach and inserting Outreach, technical assistance, and education; by striking that adequate and inserting the following: that— adequate in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and by adding at the end the following: technical assistance is provided to entities seeking to apply for a grant or financial assistance under the Program; and outreach, technical assistance, and education is provided to recipients of grants and other financial assistance under the Program relating to integrating renewable energy projects on land shared with crops or livestock. in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), in paragraph (1), by striking $20,000 and inserting $50,000; by inserting after subsection (f) (as so redesignated) the following: In this subsection, the term dual-use energy system means a system under which renewable energy production and agricultural production, including crop or animal production, occur together on the same piece of land. The Secretary shall carry out a study on dual-use energy systems. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the REAP Modernization Act of 2025, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available online, a report on the results of the study carried out under paragraph (2), which shall include a recommendation as to whether the scope of grants and other financial assistance under the Program should be expanded to cover projects that generate more energy without significantly impacting farm operations or leading to the conversion of existing farm land. In the case of a project funded by a grant or other financial assistance provided under the Program that takes place on a property on which a residence is closely associated with and shares an energy metering device with an agricultural operation or rural small business to be served by the project, there shall not be any requirement imposed relating to the quantity of energy generated by the project that must be used by the agricultural operation or rural small business. in subsection (i) (as so redesignated), by adding at the end the following: Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not more than 8 percent to carry out subsection (e). There is established a reserve fund (referred to in this paragraph as the reserve fund), into which, each fiscal year, not less than 15 percent of the funds made available under paragraphs (1) and (3) to carry out this section for that fiscal year shall be transferred. After all other funds for the Program are obligated for a fiscal year, the Secretary may use amounts in the reserve fund to provide grants and other financial assistance under the Program for projects using underutilized renewable energy technologies. If there are remaining funds in the reserve fund at the end of a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use those remaining funds to provide grants and other financial assistance under the Program without regard to whether the grants or financial assistance relate to underutilized renewable energy technologies. Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended by striking subsection (f) each place it appears and inserting subsection (i). (1)In generalThe Secretary; (2)Climate benefitsIn carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of carrying out projects funded by grants and other financial assistance under the Program.; (E)a producer cooperative;(F)a nongovernmental organization; and; (G)the potential of the proposed program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide other climate benefits.; and (A)In generalA recipient; and (B)Grant optionsA grant awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to carry out 1 or more of the activities described in subparagraph (A).; The Secretary may, on a limited case-by-case basis, provide financial assistance described in this subparagraph to agricultural producer cooperatives and rural electric cooperatives that do not otherwise qualify for the assistance.; (G)the potential of the renewable energy system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and result in other climate benefits; and; and (d)Streamlined application processThe Secretary shall develop a streamlined application process, including within each tier described in subsection (c)(4), under which an entity may apply for a grant under subsection (b), financial assistance under subsection (c), or a bundled application for a project with components eligible under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A).; that—(1)adequate; (2)technical assistance is provided to entities seeking to apply for a grant or financial assistance under the Program; and(3)outreach, technical assistance, and education is provided to recipients of grants and other financial assistance under the Program relating to integrating renewable energy projects on land shared with crops or livestock.; (g)Study(1)Definition of dual-use energy systemIn this subsection, the term dual-use energy system means a system under which renewable energy production and agricultural production, including crop or animal production, occur together on the same piece of land.(2)StudyThe Secretary shall carry out a study on dual-use energy systems.(3)ReportNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the REAP Modernization Act of 2025, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available online, a report on the results of the study carried out under paragraph (2), which shall include a recommendation as to whether the scope of grants and other financial assistance under the Program should be expanded to cover projects that generate more energy without significantly impacting farm operations or leading to the conversion of existing farm land.(h)Energy generatedIn the case of a project funded by a grant or other financial assistance provided under the Program that takes place on a property on which a residence is closely associated with and shares an energy metering device with an agricultural operation or rural small business to be served by the project, there shall not be any requirement imposed relating to the quantity of energy generated by the project that must be used by the agricultural operation or rural small business.; and (4)Outreach, technical assistance, and educationOf the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not more than 8 percent to carry out subsection (e).(5)Reserve fund(A)In generalThere is established a reserve fund (referred to in this paragraph as the reserve fund), into which, each fiscal year, not less than 15 percent of the funds made available under paragraphs (1) and (3) to carry out this section for that fiscal year shall be transferred.(B)Use of reserve fundAfter all other funds for the Program are obligated for a fiscal year, the Secretary may use amounts in the reserve fund to provide grants and other financial assistance under the Program for projects using underutilized renewable energy technologies.(C)Unused fundsIf there are remaining funds in the reserve fund at the end of a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use those remaining funds to provide grants and other financial assistance under the Program without regard to whether the grants or financial assistance relate to underutilized renewable energy technologies..