WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Congressman David Valadao (R-Calif.-22) introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
“As the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I’ve heard firsthand how lower energy costs can really help farmers. We need to take real steps to make this a reality, cutting costs for agricultural producers and rural areas as they make smart investments in clean energy and storage,” said Vindman. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to cut red tape and lower energy costs. We’re not just helping farms — we’re strengthening our rural economies and investing in a more sustainable future for Virginia.”
“As a dairy farmer, I’ve seen firsthand how hard our producers work to improve energy efficiency and be responsible stewards of the land,” said Valadao. “The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) helps lower costs and makes it easier for recipients to become more energy independent, and this bill makes key updates to ensure the program meets the needs of our Central Valley communities. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Vindman on this bipartisan effort to help more farmers and rural small businesses take advantage of this successful program.”
REAP provides financial assistance to farmers, producers, and rural small business owners to install renewable energy systems and adopt energy efficiency measures. REAP has leveraged more than $2 billion in public investment — helping drive more than $2.5 billion in total rural clean‑energy project spending — delivering more than 586 in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in rural America.
The REAP Modernization Act would build on this success by increasing the cost share of REAP grants and raising certain grant limits. Additionally, this legislation would make it easier for farmers and small businesses to access the program by streamlining the application process and increasing assistance, outreach, and education for farmers and small businesses throughout the application process.
Specifically, the REAP Modernization Act would:
- Increase the available cost share for REAP grants and the small project grant limit,
- Streamline the application process,
- Improve outreach, technical assistance, and education,
- Allow agricultural producer cooperatives and rural electric cooperatives to apply for financial assistance on a case-by-case basis,
- Establish a study on dual use of farmland for both energy production and traditional farming,
- Make reduction of greenhouse gases a more integral part of the REAP program mission, and
- Establish a reserve fund for underutilized technologies.
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