USDA Investing $464 Million to Build or Improve Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Friday, September 10th, 2021 -- 11:01 AM

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico.

USDA is financing $129 million of these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program. This program provides funding to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

These climate-smart investments will conserve and generate more than 379 million kilowatt-hours in rural America, which equates to enough electricity to power 35,677 homes per year. USDA is financing $335 million of these investments through the Electric Loan Program.

The loans will help build or improve 1,432 miles of line to strengthen reliability in rural areas. The loans include $102 million for investments in smart grid technology, which uses digital communications to detect and react to local changes in electricity usage.

The department announced investments here in Wisconsin as well as

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Iowa

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

North Carolina

North Dakota

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Vermont,

Washington

West Virginia

Wyoming

And Puerto Rico.

To learn more about these and other resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.