On November 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced investments of $1.4 billion to build and improve rural electric infrastructure in 21 states. For a full list of projects and states, please click here.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue said, “modern and reliable electric infrastructure has been a cornerstone to rural prosperity since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. This funding we are providing is critical to rural communities.”
Funding will be provided through the Electric Loan Program, which offers insured loans or loan guarantees to support the construction or maintenance of rural electric infrastructure. This investment program will help build and improve 6,886 miles of transmission and distribution line, to strengthen reliability and increase access to electric services. The loan also includes $255.8 million to invest in smart grid and digital communications technologies. This program is the result the Interagency Task Force on Rural Prosperity, formed by President Donald J. Trump in April 2017. The Task Force provided the President with 31 recommendations in January 2018, which led to a focus on investments in key rural infrastructure.