Secretary Vilsack Announces Improvements to Electric Infrastructure Across Rural America

Press Release

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that more than 54,000 customers in 20 states will benefit from electric infrastructure improvement projects funded with loan guarantees provided through USDA.

"The Obama Administration believes that modernized infrastructure is a necessary part of the foundation for long term economic stability and prosperity and that includes a modernized electrical grid," said Vilsack. "These loans will improve electric service for thousands of Americans, creating jobs, and expanding business and economic opportunity in America's small towns and communities."

USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service is providing funding that will build 4,342 miles of new distribution lines, improve 2,966 miles of existing distribution lines, build 260 miles of transmission lines, and upgrade 58 miles of exiting transmission lines. Altogether, today's investments total $1.55 billion.

For example the Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc. in Waco, Texas, has been selected to receive a $438.9 million loan guarantee to build 237 miles of new transmission lines and make improvements to 52 miles of transmission lines. This loan will benefit 68 Texas counties.

The Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. in Springfield, Mo., has been selected to receive a $490 million loan to finance a natural gas-fired combined cycle power generating unit. The unit will serve customers in Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative Inc., in Mankato, Kan., has been selected to receive a $9.3 million loan to build 61 miles of new distribution lines, and make improvements to 12 miles of distribution lines. The project will provide service to 680 new consumers in various counties in the state.

The funding is being provided under USDA Rural Development's Electric Loan Program. It may be used to expand or improve electric service, support renewable energy efforts and establish energy conservation programs.

Below is a complete list of borrowers. Funding of each loan guarantee recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the loan agreement.

Colorado

* Gunnison County Electric Association, Inc. - $3,842,000 loan to serve 854 new and existing consumers, build 41 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 11 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Sangre De Cristo Electric Association, Inc. - $13,770,000 loan to serve 1,783 new and existing consumers, build 216 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 57 miles of distribution lines, and make other systems improvements.

Colorado and Utah

* Empire Electric Association, Inc. - $42,174,000 loan to serve 1,216 new and existing consumers, build 87 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 76 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Georgia

* Planters Electric Membership Corporation - $9,200,000 loan to serve 853 new and existing consumers, build 78 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 269 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements
* Coweta-Fayette Electric Membership Corporation - $38,211,000 loan to serve 1,837 new and existing consumers, build 116 miles of new distribution lines, make improvement to 301 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Indiana

* Southern Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corporation - $15,000,000 loan to serve 1,379 new consumers, build 256 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 109 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Iowa

* Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative - $32,000,000 loan to serve 1,292 new and existing consumers, build 112 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 233 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative - $4,050,000 loan to serve 154 new and existing consumers, build 30 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 166 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma

* Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $490,000,000 loan to finance a 540MW natural gas-fired combined cycle power generating unit.

Kansas

* Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $9,303,000 loan to serve 680 new consumers, build 61 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 12 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Kentucky

* Inter-County Energy Cooperative Corporation - $15,000,000 loan to serve 2,300 new consumers, build 182 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 248 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Louisiana and Mississippi

* Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $55,050,000 loan to serve 7,986 new and existing consumers build 517 miles of new distribution lines and 17 miles of transmission lines, make improvements to 36 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Minnesota

* McLeod Cooperative Power Association - $15,995,000 loan to serve 297 new and existing consumers, build 34 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 99 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Brown County Rural Electrical Association - $8,000,000 loan to serve 207 new and existing consumers build 64 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 65 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Agralite Electric Cooperative- $7,000,000 loan to serve 198 new and existing consumers build 43 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 38 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Missouri

* Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative Association - $5,993,000 loan to serve 280 new consumers, 46 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 21 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Ozark Border Electric Cooperative - $43,483,000 loan to serve 4,386 new and existing consumers, building 260 miles of new distribution lines, acquisition of 16 miles of distribution lines, make improvements to 194 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

New York

* Otsego Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $4,773,000 loan to serve 368 new consumers, build 34 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 36 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Oneida-Madison Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $1,397,000 loan to serve 138 new consumers, build 4 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 11 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

North Carolina

* Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation - $60,000,000 loan to serve 4,663 new and existing consumers, build 306 miles of new distribution lines and 1 mile of new transmission line, make improvements to 70 miles of distribution lines and 6 miles of transmission lines, and make other system improvements.
* Carteret-Craven Electric Membership Corporation - $15,000,000 loan to serve 3,512 new consumers, build 174 miles of new distribution lines and 1 mile of transmission line, make improvements to 16 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Ohio

* North Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.- $12,8000,000 loan to serve 377 new and existing consumers, build 34 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 129 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $17,500,000 loan to serve 552 new consumers, build 50 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 159 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $10,000,000 loan to serve 645 new consumers, build 36 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 78 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

South Dakota

* Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $4,894,000 loan to serve 182 new and existing consumers, build 90 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 22 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Cam-Wal Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $3,977,000 loan to serve 158 new and existing consumers, build 61 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 44 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Oahe Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $2,730,000 loan to serve 346 new and existing consumers, build 26 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 26 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

South Dakota and Minnesota

* H-D Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $7,595,000 loan to serve 254 new and existing consumers, build 42 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 81 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Tennessee and Kentucky

* Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation- $16,000,000 loan to serve 3,700 new consumers, build 212 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 59 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Texas

* Bartlett Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $13,156,000 loan to serve 1,400 new consumers, build 40 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 47 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $13,705,000 loan to serve 1,210 new consumers, build 92 miles of new distribution lines, make improvements to 38 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.- $438,937,000 will be used to build 237 miles of new transmission lines, make improvements to 52 miles of transmission lines, and make other system improvements.

Virginia

* Rappahannock Electric Cooperative - $79,197,000 loan to serve 9,133 new and existing consumers build 879 miles of new distribution lines and 3 miles of transmission lines, make improvements to 161 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.
* Rappahannock Electric Cooperative - $12,603,000 loan will be used in the construction of headquarters facilities.

Virginia and Maryland

* A & N Electric Cooperative - $31,600,000 loan to serve 2,407 new and existing consumers, build 103 miles of new distribution lines and 1 mile of new transmission line, make improvements to 54 miles of distribution lines, and make other system improvements.

Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation's capital and 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers, and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $140 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

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