Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Energy Program
Rural Utilities Service · Affordable Rural Cooperative (10.758)
Posted 19 Oct 2026 · 32 days left
In plain terms
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) for applications under the Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Program. In addition, the Agency is announcing the eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the criteria that will be used by RUS to assess ARC Applications.
Summary from the donor's own text; the full wording is below.
Summary
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) for applications under the Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Program. In addition, the Agency is announcing the eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the criteria that will be used by RUS to assess ARC Applications. The ARC Program is making approximately $175 million in appropriated budget authority for the cost of loan and grant funds available under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. In keeping with the statutory authority for the program, RUS will utilize the ARC funds to assist Eligible Entities to achieve future net reductions consistent with Section 22004 of the IRA through the deployment of advanced, efficient transmission infrastructure and nuclear power supply. Available funds will be allocated for each purpose while advancing the long-term resiliency, reliability, and affordability of rural electric systems. All Eligible Entities are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their LOIs and ARC Applications.
This funding notice advances the statutory…
Excerpt from the donor's page. The full text, annexes and forms are on the original call.
Who can apply
- Social enterprise or cooperative
Eligibility and conditions
Show the eligibility text from the source
Applicant types: Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
(1) Operating Electric cooperatives described in section 501(c)(12) or 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 who are currently or have been in the past a RUS electric loan borrower pursuant to the RE Act;(2) Electric cooperatives serving predominantly Rural Areas; or(3) Wholly or jointly owned subsidiaries of such electric cooperatives listed in (1) and (2).For the purposes of this program, the term “predominantly rural” as used in (2) in this paragraph shall mean a service territory that must include at least 50 percent Rural Areas