FederalRolling / continuousDirect grant
Internal Revenue Service
Rolling — pre-file registration, then claim on annual return
Lets tax-exempt farms, co-ops, tribes, and municipalities receive the value of clean energy tax credits (solar, storage, EV charging, biogas) as a cash payment instead of a tax offset. Pairs well with REAP grants.
- Tax-exempt entity, tribal government, co-op, or public entity
- Owns a qualifying clean energy asset placed in service that tax year
30%+ of eligible project cost paid as cash refund
Climate & energyNon-profitTribal
FederalRolling / continuousLoan / credit
USDA Rural Development
Rolling — depends on your utility's participation
Zero-interest USDA loans to rural utilities and co-ops, which re-lend to farms and rural households for energy efficiency upgrades — repaid on the utility bill. Ask your electric co-op whether they run a RESP program.
- Customer of a participating rural utility or electric co-op
- Upgrade must reduce energy use (insulation, HVAC, coolers, lighting, irrigation motors)
Consumer loans up to $40,000 through participating utilities
Climate & energyIndividual producerNon-profitTribal
FederalRolling / continuousTechnical assistance
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Rolling sign-up with state EQIP cutoffs
Pays a certified technical service provider to write an Agricultural Energy Management Plan for your farm, then funds the recommended efficiency upgrades through EQIP cost-share.
- Agricultural producer with an established operation
- Meets standard EQIP eligibility (records, AGI, conservation compliance)
Plan cost covered; follow-on practices cost-shared through EQIP
Climate & energyIndividual producerBeginning / underservedTribal