New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Emergency
05/16/2023
Approved without change
06/16/2023
05/11/2023
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for six months.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2023
6 Months From Approved
5,824
0
0
185,514
0
0
0
0
0
On August 16, 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-169). Subtitle C, Section 22004 of IRA amended Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) by adding subjection (j). Through the passing of IRA, the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program was established with the goal of providing financial assistance to electric cooperatives to achieve the greatest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the cooperativesâ voluntary transformation of rural electric systems in a way that promotes resiliency and reliability of rural electric systems and affordability for their members.
The New ERA Program will be administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), that provides, mortgage loans and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and improve electric service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., RE Act). Section 22004 of IRA provided the Agency with $9,700,000,000 in Budget Authority (BA), to remain available until September 30, 2031. With this BA, the Agency, through the New ERA Program, will provide financial assistance in the form of loans, loan and grant combinations, loan refinancing and modifications and other financial assistance.
The Rural Utilities Service of the Rural Development (RD) Mission Area (Agency) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is requesting emergency review and approval of a new information collection for the collection of information associated with the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program. The implementation of this new program is a priority of the Biden-Harris Administration and the Secretary of Agriculture. The Agency is requesting emergency approval by May 16, 2023.
The program authorized under Section 22004 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Public Law 117-169, will be launched on May 16, 2023, using a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will be published in the Federal Register. The NOFO will announce the requirements for eligible applicants to submit applications and the Agency will begin accepting applications upon publication.
The goal of the New ERA Program is to support clean, affordable energy growth across America. The IRA contains many transformative provisions. Importantly, it makes the largest investment in clean energy in history, allowing communities that have previously been left out of the transition to access affordable, reliable, and clean energy. The IRA also marks the largest investment in rural electrification since the 1930s, providing unique opportunities to advance economic development and quality of life in rural communities. The Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized these initiatives, elevating the role of infrastructure and the needs of rural America in its policies and their implementation.
In order to expedite the obligation of funds, it is necessary to launch the program and begin collecting applications on July 31, 2023, as directed by OMB and the White House Clean Energy and Climate Team. An emergency approval is necessary in order to meet the timeline to announce the application window. Demand is anticipated to be extremely high for this new program as construction of approved renewable energy infrastructure projects will take multiple years to complete and disbursement of funds may not extend past September 30, 3031. In compliance with OMB regulations (5 CFR Part 1320), which implements the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the information collection and recordkeeping requirements that may be imposed by this section are submitted to OMB for emergency review and approval. Attached are the supporting statement and burden worksheet for the collection.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
NEW ERA NOFO-Clean 5-11-23.docx
RUS IRA GHG Calculator v4.2c - template ~ pwd.xlsx
Emergency Request for PRA Approval NewERA.pdf
Burden New ERA-Program 5-10-23.xlsm
Empowering Rural America Program