Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS PART 2026
The Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program is a USDA Rural Development initiative administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) that provides federal loans to help finance new power generation projects based on renewable energy resources, as well as energy storage systems that directly support renewable generation. The program is positioned as a utility-focused financing tool meant to expand affordable and reliable electricity supplies, particularly in rural-serving contexts where RUS traditionally operates. Instead of a one-time competitive grant, this opportunity is structured around a letter of interest (LOI) followed by a formal loan application, with RUS reviewing complete LOIs on a rolling, first-in basis as they are received.
Funding for PART comes from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, specifically Section 22001, which amended existing rural energy lending authority under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by adding a new subsection. Through this IRA authority, RUS has about 410 million in appropriated budget authority available for the cost of these loans. Because this is budget authority tied to loan subsidy cost rather than a simple pot of cash grants, the program is designed to leverage federal dollars into a larger amount of project lending. RUS also notes it can adjust the available level up or down depending on whether additional funds become available or whether the pipeline of submissions is strong enough.
A central feature of the PART program is loan forgiveness: qualifying project loans or system loans may be forgiven up to 40 percent, as long as the borrower (the awardee) and the project satisfy the specific terms and conditions required for that forgiveness. In practical terms, applicants should treat this as a loan program with a potentially large partial forgiveness component, not as a traditional grant, and should be prepared to document eligibility and compliance in order to secure and retain the forgiveness benefit.
The notice describes two main financing pathways: Project Loans and System Loans. For Project Loans, PART can generally finance up to 75 percent of a project’s total capitalized costs, requiring the awardee to cover at least 25 percent through cash or equity contributions. Importantly, that required applicant share cannot come from debt instruments, meaning the matching portion must be true equity or cash investment rather than borrowed funds. There is an exception for projects benefiting SUTA areas, where RUS may use separate authority under Section 306F of the Rural Electrification Act to finance up to 100 percent of project costs. For System Loans, the program may cover up to 100 percent of total project costs, offering a different route for certain borrower and project structures.
Eligible applicants are described as “Operating Utilities,” and the eligibility list is broad, covering many of the entities that own or operate electric infrastructure in rural or mixed service territories. Applicants may include for-profit organizations, state or local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes (including wholly owned arms and instrumentalities), Alaska Native Corporations (regional or village corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act), nonprofit organizations, distribution electric cooperatives and generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives, and certificated electric utilities. This mix signals that the program is intended to reach both public-power style entities and private or cooperative utilities, as well as Tribal and Alaska Native utility operators.
From an administrative standpoint, applicants should pay close attention to the staged process and timing. RUS is explicitly soliciting LOIs first and will evaluate complete submissions on a rolling basis in the order received, which makes readiness and early submission strategically valuable compared with programs that rank everyone after a single deadline. The published closing date for this opportunity is 2026-10-09. The funding opportunity is listed as discretionary, categorized under energy, and is associated with CFDA (now Assistance Listing) number 10.757. The opportunity number is RUS PART 2026, and the agency indicates an expected volume of awards (listed as 100) with an award ceiling shown as 100,000,000, which suggests that individual financings can be large and utility-scale, even if actual loan amounts and terms will depend on underwriting, eligibility, and program rules.
Overall, the PART Energy Program is best understood as a federal rural utility lending and deployment mechanism for renewable generation and supporting storage, enhanced by up to 40 percent forgiveness for compliant projects. Applicants that are utilities or utility-like operators with near-term, financeable renewable or renewable-plus-storage projects, and with the ability to provide required equity where applicable, are the most natural fit for this opportunity.Apply for RUS PART 2026
- The Rural Utilities Service in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.757.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program (USDA Rural Development / RUS)
What is the PART Energy Program?
The Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program is a USDA Rural Development initiative administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) that provides federal loans to help finance new power generation projects based on renewable energy resources, as well as energy storage systems that directly support renewable generation.
Is PART a grant or a loan program?
PART is a loan program, not a traditional grant. It includes a loan forgiveness feature where qualifying project loans or system loans may be forgiven up to 40% if the borrower and the project meet required terms and conditions.
How much loan forgiveness is available?
Up to 40% of a qualifying project loan or system loan may be forgiven, as long as the borrower (awardee) and the project satisfy the specific terms and conditions required for forgiveness.
Should applicants treat this opportunity like a grant?
No. Applicants should treat PART as a federal loan program with a potentially large partial forgiveness component, and should be prepared to document eligibility and compliance to secure and retain the forgiveness benefit.
What types of projects can PART finance?
PART supports (1) new power generation projects based on renewable energy resources and (2) energy storage systems that directly support renewable generation.
Who is the program designed for?
The program is positioned as a utility-focused financing tool intended to expand affordable and reliable electricity supplies, particularly in rural-serving contexts where RUS traditionally operates.
What is the application process?
The opportunity is structured around submitting a letter of interest (LOI) first, followed by a formal loan application.
Are LOIs reviewed competitively or on a rolling basis?
RUS reviews complete LOIs on a rolling, first-in basis in the order they are received.
Why does timing matter for submitting an LOI?
Because LOIs are reviewed on a rolling, first-in basis, readiness and early submission can be strategically valuable compared with programs that evaluate everyone after a single deadline.
What is the published closing date for the opportunity?
The published closing date is 2026-10-09.
What are the two main financing pathways under PART?
The notice describes two primary pathways: Project Loans and System Loans.
How much of a project can be financed under a Project Loan?
For Project Loans, PART can generally finance up to 75% of a project's total capitalized costs.
Is a match required for Project Loans?
Yes. For Project Loans, the awardee must cover at least 25% of total capitalized costs through cash or equity contributions.
Can the required 25% applicant share come from borrowed funds?
No. The required applicant share for a Project Loan cannot come from debt instruments. It must be true cash or equity rather than borrowed funds.
Is there any exception to the 75% financing limit for Project Loans?
Yes. For projects benefiting SUTA areas, RUS may use separate authority under Section 306F of the Rural Electrification Act to finance up to 100% of project costs.
How much can be financed under a System Loan?
For System Loans, the program may cover up to 100% of total project costs.
Who can apply (what types of entities are eligible)?
Eligible applicants are described as "Operating Utilities." The list includes for-profit organizations, state or local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes (including wholly owned arms and instrumentalities), Alaska Native Corporations (regional or village corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act), nonprofit organizations, distribution electric cooperatives, generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives, and certificated electric utilities.
Does the eligibility list include Tribal entities?
Yes. Federally recognized Indian Tribes (including wholly owned arms and instrumentalities) are listed as eligible applicants.
Are Alaska Native Corporations eligible?
Yes. Alaska Native Corporations (regional or village corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) are included as eligible applicants.
Are electric cooperatives eligible?
Yes. Distribution electric cooperatives and generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives are included as eligible applicants.
Are state or local governments eligible?
Yes. State or local governments are included in the list of eligible applicants.
What is the source of funding authority for PART?
Funding for PART comes from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, specifically Section 22001, which amended rural energy lending authority under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by adding a new subsection.
How much funding is available?
RUS has about $410 million in appropriated budget authority available for the cost of these loans under the IRA authority.
Does the $410 million represent a simple pot of grant cash?
No. The notice describes this as appropriated budget authority tied to loan subsidy cost rather than a simple pot of cash grants, and it is intended to leverage federal dollars into a larger amount of project lending.
Can the available funding level change?
Yes. RUS notes it can adjust the available level up or down depending on whether additional funds become available or whether the pipeline of submissions is strong enough.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number is 10.757.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is RUS PART 2026.
How is the opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary and categorized under energy.
How many awards are expected?
The agency indicates an expected volume of awards listed as 100.
What is the award ceiling shown in the notice?
The award ceiling is shown as $100,000,000, suggesting individual financings can be large and utility-scale (with actual loan amounts and terms depending on underwriting, eligibility, and program rules).
What kinds of applicants are the best fit for PART based on the notice summary?
Applicants that are utilities or utility-like operators with near-term, financeable renewable or renewable-plus-storage projects, and with the ability to provide required equity where applicable, are described as the most natural fit.
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