USDA’s New ERA Program has selected 10 rural electric cooperatives for $4.37 billion in funding for clean energy investments
Several of the winners will invest the proceeds into solar and wind energy projects along with BESS capacity
These investments will support a minimum 5,000 jobs and reduce climate pollution by more than 11 million tons/year
Rural electric cooperatives in the US have secured more than $4.37 billion in clean energy investments through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program, under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
According to the USDA, this is the largest investment in rural electrification in the US since 1936 when the Rural Electrification Act was signed into law.
A total of 10 rural electric cooperatives have been selected for this funding in the form of loans and grants. These are based in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas. USDA says these investments will support 5,000 jobs at a minimum and reduce climate pollution by more than 11 million tons/year.
CORE Electric Cooperative of Colorado has secured $225 million to procure 550 MW of wind and solar energy, and 100 MW of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity.
Another winner is Nebraska Electric G&T, which plans to use the $200 million New ERA investment to procure 725 MW of wind and solar energy.
The largest electric cooperative in Minnesota, Connexus Energy, has secured nearly $170 million in New ERA grant funding to procure over 282 MW of renewable hydro, solar and wind energy, along with an additional 20 MW of BESS capacity.
Another cooperative San Miguel Electric Cooperative will deploy $1.4 billion for 600 MW of solar PV and BESS capacity to power 47 counties across rural South Texas.
Utility-scale solar and BESS worth 700 MW will be established by Seminole Electric Cooperative in rural Florida, while Trico Electric Cooperative plans to use its $43 million for 80 MW solar and 80 MW BESS capacity in rural Arizona.
United Power has landed $262 million to build a clean energy portfolio of more than 760 MW in rural Colorado. Yampa Valley Electric Association will use $50 million to procure up to 150 MW of solar energy and 75 MW of BESS in northwestern Colorado and southwestern Wyoming.
A complete list of the winners is available on the New ERA website.