The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, a descendant of the New Deal agency that helped bring electricity to rural areas, awarded $3.6 billion in loans to 82 rural electric projects in 31 states. The money will build or improve 12,500 miles of transmission and distribution lines, and includes $216 million for “smart gird” technology to boost the reliability and efficiency of service.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the loans as part of National Cooperative Month. “For 80 years, rural electric utilities have provided reliable and affordable electricity to help rural communities increase productivity and build stronger economies,” said Vilsack.
Oglethorpe Power Corp., with a generating capacity of 7,785 megawatts, received the largest loan, $448.3 million, to improve its system of natural gas, hydroelectric, coal and nuclear plants. Based in an Atlanta suburb, Oglethorpe is owned by 38 electric cooperatives serving a combined 4.5 million people, roughly half of Georgia’s population. In addition, Georgia Transmission Corp., owned by the same 38 co-ops as Oglethorpe, received two loans totaling $202 million. Georgia Transmission owns 3,000 miles of high-voltage lines and 600 substations to deliver power to rural co-ops.
For a list of the projects and loan amounts, click here.