Rural electric-project financing: USDA PART letters of interest close October 9
The deadline is 11:59 a.m. Eastern, or 8:59 a.m. Pacific; this is utility-scale loan financing, not a household solar grant.
Qualified electric-service entities considering projects that could serve rural communities such as Lincoln County have until October 9, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time to submit a letter of interest for USDA's Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) program. That is 8:59 a.m. Pacific, a local-time conversion—not an end-of-day deadline.
The program provides loans for eligible renewable-electricity generation and storage projects. This round identifies hydropower, geothermal and biomass generation; storage eligibility follows the program's separate rules. Awards run from $1 million to $100 million, including any forgivable portion. Conditional loan forgiveness may reach 40%; this is not a household rooftop-solar grant.
Eligible utility entities may include cooperatives, governments, Tribes, nonprofits and for-profit organizations, subject to the full notice. The service territory generally must be at least 50% rural, with specified agency-approved exceptions. A letter of interest or invitation to apply is not loan approval.
Read the governing notice and ask USDA at SM.RD.RUS.PART-Questions@usda.gov about eligibility and submission. No Lincoln County applicant, award or local project was established by this research.
Image: conceptual planning illustration, not a local power project, official application or financing approval.