Get Expert USDA REAP Grant Writers Who Specialize in Solar Installations
Looking for USDA REAP grant writing services?
Finding the right team of experts for something this important matters a lot. Why? Because winning a REAP grant can mean cutting the total project costs of your solar power system or other renewable energy project in half. Or, if you win a combined REAP grant and loan, you could defray up to 75% of the costs, and that’s before you also factor in the 30% federal tax credit.
Getting the picture?
It’s possible to install a massive solar energy system, barely pay for any of it, and enjoy the benefit of free power for solar panels you’ll have already paid for within a couple years of installation.
But achieving that hinges on winning that REAP grant, and winning that means navigating the REAP application process.
REAP — Rural Energy for America Program
The REAP grant has gone through various iterations over the years, and funding for it increased as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
A USDA REAP grant or loan can be used to offset large portions of the total project costs for several types of renewable energy projects and energy efficiency projects. It was specifically designed for rural small businesses and agricultural producers.
There is an application process, a deadline for each submission period, a set of scoring criteria, various eligibility rules, a certain amount of available funding each year, and more. You can learn much more about the REAP grant here.
But once you’ve decided you want to apply for a REAP grant, you’ll need to figure how to start and complete the process. You want it to end with you enjoying a huge grant that you’ll use to complete your renewable energy project.
Three options for REAP grant writing services
Here are your three main options for finding REAP grant writing services.
1. Complete the application process yourself
Let’s get this out of the way first. This is a bad option. To fill out a REAP grant application is not simple. Here’s the government web page that explains what’s required and provides all the forms and documents you’ll need to fill out and submit.
There are a number of eligibility requirements that aren’t difficult to meet as long as you’re operating as an agricultural producer or rural business. Beyond that, the REAP application process has several steps and requires extensive information to qualify.
For example, you’ll need to get environmental, historical, and tribal clearances in accordance with individual state requirements. If this is your first time applying (or even your second or third), getting through this red tape is going to take (a lot of) time.
But, you can do it this way, and exploring the details and learning all you can is always a good thing. If you want all the relevant REAP grant information in one place, this REAP grant information page will be easier to get through than the government one.
2. Use REAP grant writing services
The next option is to use a REAP grant writing service. There are a number of these. Some are for-profit businesses. Some are nonprofits. Some specialize in certain aspects of the REAP program, only work with rural businesses or agricultural producers, or have other specializations. Some perform many other services in addition to writing REAP grant applications.
The advantages of using professional REAP grant writers
Here are a few reasons these REAP grant writing services can be a good choice:
Familiarity with the process
REAP grant writing services have done this before. They know the submission deadlines. They know the questions. They’re familiar with all the necessary documents and forms, and know how to fill them out. They know the scoring criteria and what it takes to meet each one with the strongest set of information. They know what to ask the applicant, what information they need from you, and what’s not important.
They’re also familiar with how the REAP application process works with regard to different states. They know how to find the right people to contact if they have questions.
Industry expertise
Renewable energy and energy efficiency are their own industries. While there are many different types of renewable energy technology, and numerous energy efficiency improvement projects you could be interested in, only certain types of projects are eligible.
An experienced REAP grant writer will have some familiarity with these types of projects. They should be able to consult with you and speak the language required to submit a REAP application.
A track record of success
Good USDA REAP grant writing services should be able to show you a track record of grant funding success. They should have case studies of real agricultural producers and rural small businesses who have won grants through their services. This at least ensures you’re working with people who have been there, and done that.
The disadvantages of using professional REAP grant writers
Though REAP grant writing services have some points in their favor, there are several other reasons they can be problematic, depending on your project, the system you have in mind, and various other factors.
Higher cost
Make no mistake — this isn’t free. REAP grants can be worth hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars. And the grant writing services that help with your application will be sure to take their share of it. As they should — this is their business, after all, and if they help you win a grant, you’ll be more than happy to pay a fair price for their services.
But they will take a portion of your grant funds, which reduces the budget you have left to spend on the actual project itself.
Some services only charge a fee if your grant application is successful. If you choose to work with a REAP grant writing service, this is the kind you’d want to use, because they’re putting their own skin in the game, and are thus motivated to submit a successful grant application.
It’s separate from actual project installation or completion
If your grant writing service wins REAP grant funding for your project, you’ll still have to go find the actual installation company to complete it. Whether it’s wind, solar, or some other renewable energy system or energy efficiency project, the grant writing service isn’t going to do the construction and engineering work.
Once you find the business who can install your system, you’ll have to negotiate another contract and the actual project cost. So it adds to your time spent getting this done because you’re dealing with two separate entities. If you could just go directly to an installer, you’d save all that time.
Some REAP grant writing services probably have recommended vendors, but then you have to wonder if these are the best companies to use, or if they’re just the ones who struck the best deal, or know the “right people” and became a preferred vendor.
Different specializations may not align with your needs
If you have a dairy farm, but your chosen REAP grant writing service has only worked with rural brick-and-mortar retail businesses, there’s a misalignment of expertise here. Obviously they can probably navigate it, but you being their first dairy farm applicant certainly means there will be a learning curve.
Diluted expertise
This is probably the biggest concern about working with a service.
No one can be an expert at everything. REAP grants can be awarded for all sorts of projects and renewable energy systems, from HVAC upgrades to biomass to wind and solar generation to insulation to electric irrigation motors, and many others.
No grant writing service can have high levels of expertise in every area of the incredibly-wide range of potential projects that can apply for a REAP grant. They’re only as experienced as their own people, and everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
Many of these companies also provide other services such as energy audits, or they work in other environmental or conservation efforts such as forestry. This is the equivalent of going to a general hospital for lifesaving heart surgery vs going to a dedicated cardiovascular center.
And though niche experts usually cost more, when it comes to applying for a REAP grant, the reverse may actually be true!
If you know what you want — you’re better off going to a specialist with expertise in that particular niche — if one exists.
And that’s your third option:
3. Work directly with your project installation company
If you know you want to install a wind power system, look for a wind generation installer that also has REAP grant program expertise (like millions of dollars in funded grants). Here are the advantages of using this approach:
There’s no extra costs or lost funding
If you win grant funding using this approach, you get to use all the funds to cover part of the cost for your project. The installer isn’t going to charge extra for the REAP application, because they are also working on the project itself. They’ll just charge and get paid their normal fee for that, part of which will get covered by the REAP grant.
The same company also does the installation
You don’t have to work with two separate companies. The same company helping submit your REAP grant does the work once grant funds are awarded. That means:
- There’s one contract (and at Ag Solar, we don’t require that you commit to construction before helping with your app)
- You can work with the same people the whole time
- There’s consistent customer service and communication throughout the process
- The installer can tailor the REAP application to your specific project — all the details an installer understands
Maximized industry expertise
Best of all, you’re working with someone with the highest level of expertise in your area of need who also has REAP grant application experience.
For example, if you want to install solar panels for a farm or rural business, this is all Ag Solar does. We are an agricultural solar specialist. We don’t do residential solar. Just about every one of our clients is also eligible to apply for a REAP grant, and most do.
Ag Solar’s amazing REAP grant writing record
As for track record, we’ve been doing this for years. To date, we have:
- Won over $10 million in REAP grants for our clients
- Maintained an above 90% track record of successful grant applications
- Achieved a 100% success rate the last two years (2022 and 2023)
Here are a bunch of case studies of agricultural producers we’ve worked with on solar energy projects, the majority of whom also applied for and won REAP grants.
If you want a REAP grant for something other than solar power, you now know your options and can begin searching accordingly.
But if you run a farm or rural business and want to save money and slash energy costs using solar power, Ag Solar is the specialist you’re looking for. We will help you win a REAP grant, saving you money before the installation begins. Then, after the project has been completed, you’ll get to continue saving money by producing your own power and liberating yourself from the ever-rising costs of power from the utility company.
