While touring Piedmont Electric Membership Corp.'s facilities in North Carolina last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the department has reached its $250 million goal to finance smart grid technologies.
Vilsack also announced that nine rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 10 states will receive loan guarantees to make smart-grid-related improvements to generation and transmission facilities.
As part of President Obama's Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, the administration has outlined a framework for a modernized electric system that lays out a number of public and private initiatives, including a goal of $250 million in loans for smart grid technology deployment as part of the USDA's Rural Utility Service.
The following is a list of rural utilities that will receive USDA funding, which is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement:
Colorado/Nebraska/New Mexico/Wyoming
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. - $140,483,000 loan. Funds will be used to build 50 miles of transmission lines and make upgrades to the existing generation and transmission facilities. The loan amount includes $21,756,000 in smart grid projects and $808,780 in environmental improvements.
Kansas
The Ark Valley Electric Cooperative Association Inc. - $6.13 million loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 355 miles of distribution lines and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $2,014,500 in smart grid projects.
Minnesota
Stearns Cooperative Electric Association - $23,654,000 loan. The cooperative will improve 147 miles of distribution lines and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $974,085 in smart grid projects.
Agralite Electric Cooperative - $5,159,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 61 miles of distribution lines and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $180,968 in smart grid projects.
Missouri/Iowa
Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative - $30,093,000 loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 24 miles of transmission lines, build three new substations and make other improvements. The loan amount includes $500,000 in smart grid projects.
North Carolina
Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corp. - $6.41 million loan. The cooperative will build and improve 310 miles of distribution lines and two miles of transmission lines, as well as make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $1,084,728 in smart grid projects.
Piedmont Electric Membership Corp. - $30 million loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 108 miles of distribution lines and five miles of transmission lines, as well as to make other system improvements.
Brunswick Electric Membership Corp. - $21.5 million loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 220 miles of distribution lines and make other system improvements.
Wisconsin
Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative - $6 million loan. Funds will be used to build and improve 88 miles of distribution lines and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $255,833 in smart grid projects.
