1. (a) General provisions. The TxCDBG will develop a renewable energy pilot program funded solely through deobligated funds/program income for demonstration projects that employ renewable energy for at least 20% of the total energy requirements (excluding the purchase of energy from the electric grid that was produced with renewable energy). The priority will be for projects that are connected with providing public facilities to meet basic human needs such as water or waste water. It is anticipated that the projects funded would meet the National Objective of benefiting a "target area" where at least 51% of the residents are low and moderate income persons, although the project would be allowed to qualify under other National Objective alternatives. The maximum amount of the project would be $500,000 and the minimum would be $50,000.

2. (b) Selection criteria. The projects will be selected on the following basis. Seventy points are available.

   1. (1) Type of Project: Primarily used in conjunction with providing public facilities to meet basic human needs such as water or waste water and/or benefit to low/moderate-income persons--up to 15 points.
   2. (2) Innovative Technology/Methods--A project that would demonstrate the application of innovative technology and/or methods--up to 10 points.
   3. (3) Duplication in Other Rural Areas--A project that could have widespread application (although it would not need to be applicable in every portion of the state)--up to 10 points.
   4. (4) Long-term Cost/Benefit and Texas Renewable Energy Goals--Projects that demonstrate long term cost/benefit analysis including benefits to the human environment and consistency with Texas renewable energy goals--up to 10 points.
   5. (5) Partnership/Collaboration--Projects that have a demonstrated partnership and collaboration with other entities focusing on promoting renewable energy including universities, funding agencies, associations, or businesses--up to 10 points.

   6. (6) Leveraging--projects with committed funds from other entities including funding agencies, local governments, or businesses.

      1. (A) Applicant(s) population equal to or less than 2,500 according to the latest decennial Census:

         1. (i) Match equal to or greater than 15% of grant request--10 points
         2. (ii) Match at least 8% but less than 15% of grant request--5 points
         3. (iii) Match at least 3%, but less than 8% of grant request--3 points
         4. (iv) Match at least 2%, but less than 3% of grant request--1 point
         5. (v) Match less than 2% of grant request--0 points

      2. (B) Applicant(s) population equal to or less than 5,000 but over 2,500 according to the latest decennial Census:

         1. (i) Match equal to or greater than 25% of grant request--10 points
         2. (ii) Match at least 13% but less than 25% of grant request--5 points
         3. (iii) Match at least 5%, but less than 13% of grant request--3 points
         4. (iv) Match at least 3%, but less than 5% of grant request--1 point
         5. (v) Match less than 3% of grant request--0 points

      3. (C) Applicant(s) population equal to or less than 10,000 but over 5,000 according to the latest decennial Census:

         1. (i) Match equal to or greater than 35% of grant request--10 points
         2. (ii) Match at least 18% but less than 35% of grant request--5 points
         3. (iii) Match at least 7%, but less than 18% of grant request--3 points
         4. (iv) Match at least 4%, but less than 7% of grant request--1 point
         5. (v) Match less than 4% of grant request--0 points

      4. (D) Applicant(s) population over 10,000 according to the latest decennial Census:

         1. (i) Match equal to or greater than 50% of grant request--10 points
         2. (ii) Match at least 25% but less than 50% of grant request--5 points
         3. (iii) Match at least 10%, but less than 25% of grant request--3 points
         4. (iv) Match at least 5%, but less than 10% of grant request--1 point
         5. (v) Match less than 5% of grant request--0 points
      5. (E) The population category under which county applications are scored is dependent upon the project type and the beneficiary population served. If the project is for beneficiaries for the entire county, the total population of the county is used. If the project is for activities in the unincorporated area of the county with a target area of beneficiaries, the population category is based on the unincorporated residents for the entire county.
   7. (7) Location in Rural Areas--Projects that benefit cities with populations under 10,000 and/or counties under 100,000--5 points.
   8. (8) Tiebreaker--If needed in the ranking of applications based on available funds, a tie between multiple applications shall be broken based on the score of (D) Long-term Cost/Benefit and Texas Renewable Energy Goals, followed by the per capita income ranking for the entire population of the city or county that applied.

Source Note:The provisions of this §30.10 adopted to be effective February 28, 2008, 33 TexReg 1522; amended to be effective March 16, 2009, 34 TexReg 1799; amended to be effective September 11, 2011, 36 TexReg 5676; transferred effective October 1, 2011, as published in the Texas Register December 23, 2011, 36 TexReg 9011.