The Department of Agriculture seeks public input to help create a new Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program. USDA is seeking written comments and will host a public listening session on April 22, 2021. USDA’s Justin Maxson says, “we must put rural communities at the heart of climate action and climate-smart solutions, and that begins with getting feedback.” The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provided $10 million to USDA to develop a pilot program that provides financial assistance to rural communities to further develop renewable energy. The request for information and the stakeholder listening session seek input to help develop options for the Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program. The new program will aim to support the nation’s critical energy needs, and combat climate change while advancing environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity using distributed energy technologies, innovations, and/or solutions. Written comments are encouraged and must be submitted online by April 29, 2021, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at regulations.gov.