USDA Invests over $80 Million to Improve Rural Electric Infrastructure in North Dakota and Minnestoa
BISMARCK, N.D., March 24, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director for Rural Development in North Dakota Mark Wax announced today an over $80 million rural electric loan package to build or improve electric infrastructure in 11 states.
“These investments will bring critical improvements and upgrades to the electrical system in North Dakota,” said Wax. “We work hard to ensure every resident in the state has access to quality services such as electricity. This lays the foundation for future projects to bring additional services to our residents.”
Background:
USDA is investing in 11 projects through the Electric Loan Program. This funding will benefit 460,000 rural residents and businesses in Arizona, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia. Several of the loans will help expand smart grid technologies, which can be a catalyst for broadband and other telecommunications services in unserved and underserved rural areas.
USDA’s Electric Loan Program helps finance wind, solar and natural gas plants, as well as improvements to produce clean energy from coal-fired plants. Local utilities also use the loans to invest in infrastructure to deliver affordable power to millions of residential, commercial and agricultural consumers.
To learn more about electric infrastructure and other investment resources for rural areas, contact the USDA Rural Development state office.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/nd. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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