Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI), a nonprofit consortium of Energy Districts based in 13 counties in Iowa including Tama County, is offering free energy coaching to assist farms and small businesses in applying for USDA grant funding for renewable energy or energy efficiency improvement projects.

USDA’s Rural Energy in America Program (REAP) is accepting grant applications that, if approved, would fund 50% of the cost of renewable energy or energy efficiency improvement projects. 

Eligible projects for REAP renewable energy system grants include: biomass, geothermal, small and large scale wind generation, and small and large scale solar generation. Eligible projects for REAP energy efficiency improvements include: high efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) systems, insulation, lighting, cooling or refrigeration units, doors and windows, and replacement of energy-inefficient equipment. Ineligible projects include: any residential use, tractors or implements, new construction, or upgrades to buildings which do not currently consume energy.

CEDI provides priority assistance to customers and communities that are traditionally underserved by the REAP program, including areas defined by USDA as disadvantaged communities and distressed communities. CEDI also offers priority assistance to applicants with small grants ($20,000 or less) or grants for underutilized technologies.

CEDI employs two Energy Coaches for the REAP program to serve the 13 counties with Energy Districts. Mark Patton provides assistance in the following counties: Delaware, Jackson, Johnson, Linn, Muscatine, Tama, and Polk.  He may be reached at mark.patton@cleanenergydistricts.org or at 563-299-1839.

Steve Hopkins provides assistance in the following counties: Allamakee, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Dubuque, Howard, and Winneshiek. He may be reached at: steve.hopkins@cleanenergydistricts.org or at 641-831-3552.

For more information or to apply for CEDI REAP coaching, please fill out the inquiry form at: www.cleanenergydistricts.org/reap. This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law.