It was a busy day in Washington yesterday as U.S. Secretary Steven Chu announced the issue of a final rule for the Loan Guarantee Program. The revised rule was designed to increase participation from private investors and banks as well as to support more innovative energy technologies. This announcement came on the same day that Chu released another $100 million for a second round of ARPA-E funding.

*Photo Credit The Cayman Institute

“This much needed change will provide greater flexibility to the Loan Guarantee Program and help us to support more projects at a better value to taxpayers,” said Secretary Chu. “This is part of our commitment to ensuring businesses are able to access the support they need to create jobs and contribute to a clean energy economy.”

The new rules came as a result of more than 2,100 comments from interested parties during the 30-day comment period. Under the updated rule, the Loan Guarantee Program will be able to consider financing project in conjunction with other lenders as well as provide loan guarantees to projects with multiple stakeholders.

Copies of the proposed rule will be available from the Department’s Loan Guarantee Program at www.lgprogram.energy.gov.