RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP) LOANS AND GRANTS

Full Grant and Loan Application Support

Expert, Fully-Certified Solar Panel Installers

25+ Years of Service Excellence

What Is REAP?

REAP (or the Rural Energy for America Program) is a loan and grant program operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is designed to help agricultural-focused businesses (like farmers) and rural businesses to have access to special funding for renewable energy, including solar panels.

What Businesses Are Eligible for REAP Funding?

Businesses that are eligible for REAP funding are existing businesses that can be categorized as either:

  • Agricultural producers (like farmers)

  • Small businesses in rural areas


You can check if your business is in a rural area here, or you can reach out to Weddle and Sons for assistance. 

How Weddle and Sons Makes Applying for REAP Easy

When you reach out to Weddle and Sons to install solar panels, full assistance with applying for REAP grants and loans is included. Our service includes:

  • Identifying eligibility. 

  • Creating a solar project that meets USDA requirements.

  • Requesting specific documentation required for grant and loan applications.

  • Developing solar projects that maximize application point totals.

  • Finalizing applications before formal submission.

  • Acting as a liaison between your business and the local USDA point of contact.


There is no commitment required to any solar project until you see the results of your REAP application and fully understand how much funding you qualified for.

REAP Success Story

Want to know what our help looks like in a real-world story? Watch how Weddle and Sons made a huge difference for this rural business:

Weddle and Sons: Solar Panel Installation Experts and REAP Application Expertise

Weddle and Sons has been in the business for more than 25 years, and we would love to show you why customers keep coming to us year after and project after project. If you're interested in solar for your business and think that you may be eligible for REAP (or want to know if you could be eligible), reach out today!

REAP FAQs

  • The minimum and maximum grant amounts depend on whether you're getting renewable energy or investing in energy efficiency.

    For renewable energy system grants, the minimum is $2,500, with a maximum grant of $1 million.

    For energy efficiency grants, the minimum is $1,500, with a $500,000 maximum.

  • Each year, there are multiple deadlines for different rounds of funding. For 2024, the deadlines for grants are:

    • March 31st

    • June 30th

    • September 30th

    For guaranteed loans, applications operate on a continuous cycle without hard deadlines. More information about the application deadlines for REAP grants and loans can be found through the Federal Register.

  • Aside from what we mentioned, there are a few additional requirements to receive REAP grants and loans:

    • If applying for only grants, businesses must provide at least 50% of the total project cost.

    • If applying for only loans, or a mix of loans and grants, businesses must provide at least 25% of the total project cost.

    • Per the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, "all projects must have technical merit and utilize commercially available technology."

    • For energy efficiency projects, you'll be required to have an energy audit performed.

  • We do not charge an additional fee for providing REAP application assistance. In fact, we don't require any commitment at all until after you receive the results of your application. If the funding you're awarded works, we can get started on your solar project. If it still doesn't meet your needs, we can explore other funding or financing avenues to make your project a reality.

  • Weddle and Sons handles the vast majority of the REAP application process, including filling out forms, developing a project that meets USDA guidelines for funding, and making sure your project aligns with local USDA administrator needs (when applicable). However, there are a few things businesses need to be prepared to provide, including:

    • A history of past energy use: Weddle and Sons can help you gather this information, but we don't have access to your energy bills. A significant portion of the application rubric is showing how much energy is being generated, saved and/or replaced, which can only be shown by examining past energy usage.

    • Evidence of matching funds: An important part of the 2024 REAP rubric is a commitment to matching funds, which includes having matched financing available for whatever grants and loans you qualify for. Weddle and Sons can advise this process, but it's up to businesses to show where their matching financing will come from.

    • Other business specific information: Our team will tell you specifically what information we need, so be prepared to gather business specific information for the application process. If you struggle to find the information, or need guidance in how to gather the information, Weddle and Sons will give as much guidance and assistance as needed.

  • The REAP program is slated to last until 2031, but that doesn't mean the program will remain unchanged until that time. We've already seen a change in REAP between 2023 and 2024 (the rubric was updated for different scoring outcomes, and percentage grant allotments for projects were increased from a maximum of 40% to 50%).