The USDA Rural Utilities Service announced $410 million in funding through the new Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Program to expand rural electrical infrastructure and strengthen grid reliability.

Key Details

Funding Amount: $410 million in partially forgivable loans

Eligible Projects: Infrastructure investments in:

• Hydroelectric energy production
• Geothermal energy production
• Biomass energy production
• Energy storage systems for renewable energy reliability

Award Range: Individual grants between $1 million and $100 million

Karl Elmshaeuser, RUS Administrator, noted the program advances efforts to strengthen America’s energy infrastructure while supporting affordable power for rural families.

Application Timeline

Letters of Interest accepted: September 8, 2026 through October 9, 2026

Additional Resources

• Program details
• Full Notice of Funding Opportunity
• Rural Data Gateway

Source: USDA GovDelivery Bulletin