AgSTAR Technical Reviews for USDA Rural Energy for America Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems—including anaerobic digesters—installed by agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Anaerobic digesters play an important role in expanding renewable energy generation in rural communities while reducing methane emissions from livestock operations. Because proposed digester projects vary widely in scale, design, and operational assumptions, USDA requires rigorous technical review to assess whether applications demonstrate realistic feedstock availability, sound engineering, and financial viability.

Through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA, ERG conducted more than 20 technical reviews of REAP grant and loan guarantee applications for anaerobic digester (AD) systems serving dairy, swine, and poultry operations between 2021 and 2024. ERG also reviewed and refined the AgSTAR Risk Analysis and Technical Review Checklist for Biogas Projects, a structured evaluation tool used to assess the viability of planned AD systems. The checklist includes detailed questions covering feedstock supply and characteristics, biogas production potential, biogas use, facilities and equipment, permitting requirements, operation and maintenance considerations, project cost estimates, financing plans, and overall financial feasibility.

For each application, ERG evaluated technical and economic feasibility, identified potential issues with applicant assumptions for key operational parameters, and provided recommendations for additional information or clarification needed to support funding decisions. ERG applied the AgSTAR Risk Analysis Checklist consistently across applications to ensure defensible, comparable reviews and to strengthen USDA’s due diligence for renewable energy investments and methane mitigation projects.