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Inflation Reduction Act EQIP FY 2024 Ranking Criteria for Caribbean Area Energy

Applicability

Did the applicant submit an NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application, for Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Inflation Reduction Act funds (EQIP-IRA), for a farm operation located in Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands?

  • a. Yes — Points: 0
  • b. No — Points: 0

Category Question

Conservation treatments for assessed PLUs are in: 

  • a. Puerto Rico — Points: 0
  • b. U.S. Virgin Islands — Points: 0

Program Questions

*An asterisk will be displayed to show that it is a conditional section or conditional question.

1. Is the program application for development of CPAs, DIAs or CEMAs from a TSP or Licensed Professional prepared Agricultural Energy Plan? If answer is Yes, stop and do not answer any other program question. If answer is No, proceed with evaluation to answer the remaining questions in this section.

  • a. Yes — Points: 200
  • b. No — Points: 0

2. Does the applicant self-certified for any of the following HU Categories on the NRCS-CPA-1200? Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher, Beginning Farmer or Rancher, Socially disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher, or Veteran Farmer or Rancher*

  • a. Yes — Points: 40
  • b. No — Points: 0

3. Has the application been evaluated under another ranking pool?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 100
  • b. No — Points: 0

4. Does this participant have prior year contracts or has an active contract including practices that address the same resource concerns considered in this application?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 5
  • b. No — Points: 20

6. Is the project in or near a locally identified priority watershed or environmentally sensitive area?

  • a. Yes — Points: 10
  • b. No — Points: 0

6. Is any portion of the land in the operation in a Caribbean Area source water designated priority watershed?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 10
  • b. No — Points: 0

7. Does the application include one or more of the following Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) Mitigation Practices? 311, 313, 314, 315, 317, 327, 328, 329, 332, 336, 338, 340, 342, 345, 366, 367, 372, 374, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 386, 390, 391, 393, 412, 420, 422, 430, 441, 442, 449, 453, 484, 512, 528, 533, 543, 550, 585, 590, 592, 601, 603, 612, 632, 643, 657, 666, 670, 672.*

  • a. Yes — Points: 20
  • b. No — Points: 0

Resource Questions

1. (Select ONE) With regard to applications containing energy efficiency practices:*

  • a. The application contains two or more Climate Smart Agriculture (Energy,
    Combustion, and Electricity Efficiency) core practices. — Points: 100
  • b. The application contains at least one Climate Smart Agriculture (Energy, Combustion, and Electricity Efficiency) core practice and additional facilitating or supporting practices. — Points: 50

2. (Select ONE) Use the Energy Cost Efficiency Worksheet to calculate the estimated energy cost efficiency value for the conservation practices in the EQIP plan/schedule of operations:*

  • a. Is the estimated energy cost efficiency 50 percent or more? — Points: 50
  • b. Is the estimated energy cost efficiency between 30 and 49 percent? — Points: 30
  • c. Is the estimated energy cost efficiency less than 30 percent? — Points: 10

3. Practice schedule includes practices to assist the producer to reduce excess nutrients and/or pesticides in surface water -

  • a. Yes, from field(s) that adjoin a designated impaired water body. — Points: 40
  • b. Yes, from field(s) that adjoin a non-impaired water body. — Points: 20
  • c. Yes, but farm operation does not adjoin a water body. — Points: 10
  • d. Practice schedule does not include practices to reduce excess nutrients and/or pesticides in surface water. — Points: 0

4. Does the client have a current energy audit, in compliance with ASABE S612 standard?

  • a. Yes — Points: 5
  • b. No — Points: 0

5. Based upon the energy audit results, has the client implemented at least one of the recommendations in the past?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 5
  • b. No — Points: 0