Biden Administration Announces Billions For Renewable Energy In Rural Communities

This will be the largest single federal investment in rural electrification since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a nearly $11 billion investment to assist in bringing clean energy to rural communities throughout the country.

Rural electric cooperatives, renewable energy companies and electric utilities will be able to apply for funding through two programs.

The ‘Empowering Rural America’ program aims to make $9.7 billion available for rural electric cooperatives to create renewable energy, zero-emission and carbon capture systems.

The ‘Powering Affordable Clean Energy’ program will make $1 billion available in partially-forgivable loans for the companies to help finance renewable energy projects such as large-scale solar projects.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said this will be the largest single federal investment in rural electrification since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936.