EKPC getting a slice of $7.3B in federal clean energy investment
Summary
New ERA program applicants can seek grants, loans or a combination of the two with the award not to exceed $970 million for each applicant.Kentucky Lantern reported that EKPC spokesperson Nick Comer in a statement said the nonprofit utility is finalizing a funding agreement with the USDA. The selectees announced today will reduce and avoid at least 43.7 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, equivalent to removing more than 10 million cars off the road every year.Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we are supporting a more prosperous future for rural communities by speeding up the transition to clean energy while at the same time keeping monthly bills low and investing in the American workforce with new jobs and apprenticeships, said Secretary Vilsack. Build 1,892 megawatt hours of battery storage, which increases grid reliability and significantly reduces outage times for local customers.The first round of selectees and the states they serve are as follows: Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc., Pennsylvania and New Jersey Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, and WyomingMore information about these selections can be found here.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 healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Many of these programs are also part of the Biden-Harris Administrations Justice40 Initiative, which is advancing environmental justice by ensuring that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments reach disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.USDA expects to continue making New ERA and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program awards in the coming months.