Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) for loan Applications, announcing the Application process for those loans, and providing deadlines for Applications from eligible entities under the Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program. These loan funds will be made to qualified PART Applicants to finance power generation Projects for Renewable Energy Resource (RER) systems or Energy Storage Systems (ESS) that support RER Projects. The PART Program is making approximately $410 million in appropriated budget authority (BA) funding available under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). RUS will process and evaluate complete LOI on a rolling basis in the order they are received. The PART Program is to be carried out by the RUS pursuant to Section 22001 of the IRA. Section 22001 of the IRA amends Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by adding new subsection (h). Section 22001 of the IRA provides RUS with appropriated funds “for the cost of loans under Section 317 of the RE Act.” Additionally, Section 220