wiredinUSA August 2013

INDEX

Rural infrastructure

The funding will be used to finance the construction of over 1,000 miles of new or improved electric line. Rural utilities and projects which received loans under the USDA funding include Seminole Electric Cooperative, Rayle Electric Membership, Goodhue County Cooperative Electric Association, Central Electric Power Cooperative, Central Rural Electric Cooperative, Black Hills Electric Cooperative and Lacreek Electric Association, with $9.8m going to service improvements for Native American communities. USDA agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack said fundingfor rural electricutilities isacornerstone of the Obama administration’s continuing effort to develop a new rural economy. “It is also part of our ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy to support development of energy from a variety of renewable resources. USDA’s support of rural electric utilities’ deployment of smart grid technologies will increase efficiencies, reliability, and bring more jobs to rural America,” Vilsack added. USDA figures show that since 2011, rural utilities service borrowers have used funding to invest around $464m in smart grid improvements.

funding awards

The US department of agriculture (USDA) has announced $188m in loan guarantees to upgrade rural electric infrastructure, including over $18m in smart grid funding.

wiredInUSA - August 2013

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