By NATHAN STUEDLE
St. Joseph Post
USDA announced the agency would release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy for America Program, Empowering Rural America, and Powering Affordable Clean Energy programs. Recipients will have 30 days to review and voluntarily revise their project plans to align with the “Unleashing American Energy Executive Order.” This process gives rural electric providers and small businesses the opportunity to refocus their projects on expanding American energy production while eliminating DEI and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals.
Respondents will be asked to answer several questions and provide a short narrative description of any proposed changes. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said, “This allows us to tackle America’s energy emergence and allows energy providers and small businesses to realign their projects with that mission.” The broader guidance reflects a shift away from the Green New Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act and toward investments that prioritize the needs of rural communities.