Energy Storage, GHG Emissions, Utilities, Hydro, Solar, Wind - January 2, 2025
USDA Allocates $4.4 Billion for Rural Electric Cooperatives
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced awards for over $4.37 billion in clean energy investments through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program.
Rural electric cooperatives will use the funding to lower climate pollution by millions of tons annually.
New ERA was made possible by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and is available to member-owned rural electric cooperatives, which have been the backbone of America’s rural power delivery for nearly a century.
“USDA is committed to enhancing the quality of life and improving air and water in our rural communities,” Secretary Vilsack said in a statement. “The Inflation Reduction Act’s historic investments enable USDA to partner with rural electric cooperatives to strengthen America’s energy security and lower electricity bills for hardworking families, farmers and small business owners.”
Connexus is one of 10 rural electric cooperatives receiving funding from the announcement and is Minnesota’s largest electric cooperative. Connexus will use nearly $170 million in New ERA grant funding to procure over 282 megawatts of renewable hydro, solar and wind energy. The cooperative also will purchase 20 megawatts of battery energy storage. These projects will lower climate pollution by over 1.1 million tons each year.
USDA is awarding loans and grants to cooperatives based in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska and Texas and estimates the investments will reduce climate pollution by over 11 million tons each year.
Read These Related Articles:
Stay Up-To-Date
