USDA Supports Rural Electric Infrastructure

Investments Will Benefit More Than 55,000 Rural Customers in 16 States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, left, today announced that 29 rural utilities and cooperatives in 16 states have been selected to receive loans and loan guarantees to build and repair more than 5,600 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements that will benefit more than 55,000 rural customers. Reliable electric service is a key to economic growth and development and the funding that I am announcing today will help many rural utilities improve service to their customers and owner-members.

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. The loans and loan guarantees are part of USDA Rural Development's annual budget and are not funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funding of each loan recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the loan agreement.

Alabama:
Baldwin County Electric Membership Corporation - $42,950,000
Alaska:
Kodiak Electric Association, Inc. - $10,600,000
Arizona:
Mohave Electric Cooperative Inc. - $28,075,000
Arkansas:
Petit Jean Electric Cooperative Corporation - $10,589,000
Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation - $43,413,000
Colorado:
Morgan County Rural Electric Association - $6,823,000
Georgia:
Coastal Electric Membership Corporation - $18,000,000
Washington Electric Membership Corporation - $13,346,000
Sumter Electric Membership Corporation - $10,000,000
Iowa:
Butler County Rural Electric Cooperative - $12,700,000
Grundy County Rural Electric Cooperative - $732,000
Minnesota:
Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative - $4,483,000
Missouri:
White River Valley Electric Cooperative - $51,427,000
Farmers Electric Cooperative - $9,500,000
Howard Electric Cooperative - $5,249,000
Montana:
Ravalli County Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $6,100,000
New Mexico:
Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $28,983,000
Farmers' Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $28,101,000
North Carolina:
Energy United Electric Membership Corporation - $69,000,000
Halifax Electric Membership Corporation - $6,500,000
North Dakota:
Capital Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $15,000,000
Northern Plains Electric Cooperative - $17,000,000
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative - $30,000,000
Ohio:
North Western Electric Cooperative - $4,750,000
Texas:
Karnes Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $6,718,000
Houston County Electric Cooperative - $11,940,000
Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $2,990,000
Central Texas Electric Cooperative - $34,000,000
Wyoming:
Wheatland Rural Electric Association - $4,255,000

USDA Rural Development 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 $125 billion in loans and loan guarantees.