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USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
Federal grant + loan for rural businesses (incl. agricultural). Up to 50% of project cost. Quarterly competitive windows.
How it pays
Grant up to 25% of project cost for EV charging (max grant $1M per applicant for renewable energy systems; ag producers and rural small businesses only). Note: EV chargers must serve a private fleet — they CANNOT dispense electricity for retail/public sale to qualify.
DAC bonus available. Projects in state-designated low-income or environmental-justice areas qualify for a higher rebate amount on this program.
Who qualifies
Eligible applicants: agricultural producers (50%+ income from ag) OR rural small businesses (SBA size standards, located in rural area). EV chargers funded ONLY for private fleet use, NOT public retail. Renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements are the broader categories — solar carports + private-fleet EV chargers are typical bundle.
Eligible properties
Geography
Rural areas only — population under 50,000 outside urbanized area. Most CA is NOT eligible. Verify specific address via USDA Rural Development MapServer (eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov).
Timing
FY26 applications opened October 1, 2025. Quarterly competition windows. ~$180M IRA funds + ~$20M underutilized renewable tech set-aside available for FY26.
How to apply
How this stacks with other programs
Federal programs typically stack with utility, regional (air district), state, and city/county programs on the same project. The general California stacking rules:
- Federal §30C tax credit: stacks with state, utility, regional, and local cash rebates without offset. Stacks with federal grants only with basis offset (federal grant amount reduces §30C basis).
- Federal grants (CFI, REAP, NEVI): not stackable with other federal grants on the same port.
- State + utility + regional + local: generally full stack across tiers. Same-tier programs serving the same port don't double-fund.
For the full stacking matrix, see the homepage stacking section.
Programs that stack with this one
These are explicit stacking partners verified against agency rules. Combine with this program on the same project to layer funding.
- Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
Federal · Tax Credit · Internal Revenue Service (Treasury) - Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) — Electricity Pathway Credits
California State · Fee Waiver · California Air Resources Board
More federal programs
- Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant — Community Charging & Fueling
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. DOT - Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant — Corridor Charging
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. DOT - National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
FHWA / Joint Office of Energy and Transportation; CA implementer is Caltrans + CEC - DOE State Energy Program (SEP) — formula funds to CA Energy Commission
U.S. DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs
Sourcing chargers for a project that uses this program?
EVgpo members stack programs like this one with cooperative pricing on the chargers themselves — 20–40% below MSRP. ChargePoint, Blink, Siemens, ABB, Wallbox.
Get a quote on chargers →Verified against agency sources on 2026-05-03. Eligibility, deadlines, and dollar amounts can change between refresh cycles — always confirm directly with USDA Rural Development before applying. See how we verify.