U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director Joan Scheel announced today a $12 million investment that will improve access to reliable electricity for rural Nebraskans. Today’s announcement also includes $18 million in clean energy investments to reduce pollution and strengthen rural America’s power grid under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program.
“USDA is committed to helping lower energy costs and create a path toward a cleaner more sustainable future for rural communities,” Scheel said. “These projects help to ensure that ALL areas of the state have access to modern, affordable electricity and that we continue to do our part to reduce our climate footprint while increasing America’s energy security.”
In the panhandle of Nebraska, Panhandle REM Association will use $12 million through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program to build and improve nearly 100 miles of power lines and connect 68 underserved customers to reliable electricity. Nearly $418,000 from this investment will be used to help advance smart grid technologies.
As one of five applications selected to move forward in the awards process for the PACE program, the village of Emerson is seeking $1 million to finance a solar facility that will make efficiency improvements to its energy distribution system for the Winnebago Tribe.
Midwest Electric Cooperative Corporation is seeking nearly $17 million through the PACE program to finance solar renewable energy resource facilities and energy storage systems for communities in Wallace, Grant, Paxton and Lakeview.
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. These investments will also strengthen the state’s energy independence and good-paying jobs that benefit everyone.
Powering Affordable Clean Energy Awards
USDA is announcing that five applications totaling $139 million in requested funds have been selected to move forward in the awards process for the PACE program that propose to serve disadvantaged and Tribal communities in Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii and Nebraska.
In May 2023, USDA made $1 billion available through PACE to fund new clean energy projects and energy storage in rural America. The funding being requested today is critical in helping people heat their homes, run their businesses and power their cars, schools, hospitals and more.
USDA expects to continue making PACE awards in the coming months.
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Categories: Nebraska, Government & Policy, Rural Lifestyle