Only a miniscule amount of financing commitments — 1 percent, or $ 200 million a year — went to more - affordable decentralized energy solutions, such as
household solar systems, which hold great promise to deliver basic electricity more quickly and more affordably to vast, hard - to -
reach rural populations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Rural Housing Service Section 502 Direct Loan Program, which helps relatively low - income
households get safe and affordable financing through direct lending, is
reaching capacity in terms of loans it will be funding for the 2016 fiscal year which ends September 30, 2016.