Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for awarding a $10,000,000 loan guarantee to Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative. These funds were made available through the USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service. Harkin is a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee as well as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"This assistance will help the Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative provide electricity to even more of our rural communities and ensure that existing power lines continue to function safely and efficiently," Harkin said. "By supporting loans to rural electric cooperatives, we are helping to ensure that all Iowans have access to critical infrastructure. I commend Secretary Vilsack for his work to further rural electric efforts."
The Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative will use this funding to build and improve 106 miles of distribution lines and to make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $135,000 in smart grid projects and $2,043,387 for storm damage projects.