Ten rural electric cooperatives and utilities in the US have been awarded funding to build or expand transmission and distribution lines and provide smart-grid technology to benefit nearly 20,000 rural consumers.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced loans totaling $376 million, including nearly $14 million in smart-grid technology. The funds are being awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service to assist electric utilities with upgrades, expansion, maintenance and replacement of rural America’s electric infrastructure.
USDA Rural Development also helps fund energy conservation and renewable energy projects.
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