U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer announced today that USDA is investing $87.6 million to reduce pollution and strengthen rural Minnesota’s power grid. Today’s announcement is part of a larger $2.2 billion in investments through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Guarantee program.
“Rural electric cooperatives are the backbone of America’s power delivery,” State Director Landkamer said. “Today’s announcement reinforces this commitment to strengthen America’s energy security by investing to deploy renewable energy technology and upgrade thousands of miles of transmission line across the nation."
Together, these projects will reduce electricity costs for hardworking families and small business owners and prevent power outages in the face of extreme weather exacerbated by the climate crisis. The investments will also strengthen the nation’s energy independence and good-paying jobs that benefit everyone.
Electric Infrastructure Loans
USDA is investing $2.2 billion to support 39 projects in 21 states through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. Funding will help utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure, smart-grid technologies and renewable energy systems.
The projects will ensure more than two million people in rural areas have access to reliable electricity, increasing their opportunities for economic growth and enhancing their overall quality of life.
The projects in Minnesota include:
- Renville-Sible Cooperative Power Association in Danube will use a $7,055,000 loan to connect 28 customers and build and improve 88 miles of line. This loan includes $439,500 in smart grid technologies. Renville-Sibley Coop serves 1,882 consumers over 1,045 miles of line in six counties in west central Minnesota.
- East Central Energy (ECE) in Braham will use a $28,249,000 loan to connect 1,028 consumers and build 84 miles of line. ECE provides electric service to 63,800 consumers through 8,511 miles of line in 11 counties in east central Minnesota and three counties in northwest Wisconsin.
- North Itasca Electric Coop Inc. in Bigfork will use an $8,767,000 investment to connect 242 consumers and build and improve 40 miles of line. This loan includes $292,400 in smart grid technologies. North Itasca Electric Coop provides electricity to approximately 5,600 consumers over 1,319 miles of line in three counties in north central Minnesota.
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Categories: Minnesota, Energy, Rural Lifestyle