Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking comments on how the Rural Utilities Service should develop the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP). This is a new program recently authorized by Congress.
The purpose of RESP is to help rural families and small businesses reduce energy use. USDA will provide loans to RUS borrowers that will re-lend money to qualified consumers to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures.
USDA seeks input on how to provide technical assistance and training to the employees of eligible entities, and ways to measure and verify provisions of RESP.
Written comments are due June 23, 2016. For more information, please see page 32719 of the May 24 Federal Register.