OHUB’s Post

Rural electric cooperatives were the key to electrifying rural America during the Great Depression through the New Deal. 90 years later they are leading the charge to advancing a clean energy future. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, USDA Rural Development has created a $10 billion program to help rural electric coops provide a greener future. Today, President Biden is announcing $7 billion investment through the New ERA program. #cleanenergy #rural https://lnkd.in/eP47ethj

The Rural Energy for America Program is helping businesses transition to clean energy, helping Appalachia's economy AND environment! Read more about it in Federal Legislative Specialist Quenton King's latest blog post!

The $7.3 billion New ERA program for rural electric cooperatives supports President Biden’s Justice40 initiative by ensuring 40% of benefits reach disadvantaged communities, reducing greenhouse gases, and advancing clean energy in underserved areas. It will create over 4,500 permanent jobs, 16,000 construction jobs, and deliver cleaner, more resilient electricity to 5 million rural households, promoting economic growth and environmental justice. This investment is crucial for improving grid reliability and preventing future crises, like the 2021 Texas ice storm that caused power outages and soaring electricity bills that many hardworking Texans could not pay . By enhancing clean energy infrastructure and implementing grid upgrades nationwide, the New ERA program will lower energy costs, strengthen resilience against extreme weather, and ensure that rural communities are better equipped to handle future energy demands.

Yesterday, the The White House and USDA Secretary Vilsack announced ongoing efforts to strengthen rural America through investments in affordable and reliable clean energy. The partnership with Harney Electric Cooperative includes a $13.3 million investment to finance a 5-megawatt solar power facility, which is enough electricity to power approximately 530 homes annually in Nevada and Oregon. This project will support RPN communities in Nevada These investments not only help lower energy costs but also boost resilience and support economic growth in rural communities. This is the kind of innovation that will drive sustainability across the U.S. This funding award is part of USDA Rural Development’s PACE program is from the Inflation Reduction Act -- the largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936 as part of the New Deal. As we continue to roll out projects like these, I'm excited to be a part of the lasting impact on rural America's future. https://lnkd.in/gQi6Nnvf #CleanEnergy #RuralDevelopment #USDA #RenewableEnergy #Infrastructure #Sustainability

The U.S. government is allocating $7.3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to fund clean energy projects led by rural electric cooperatives. The initiative aims to reduce energy costs and improve reliability for rural Americans while helping to avoid over 43 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. "One in five rural Americans will benefit from these clean energy investments," says U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack. The 16 funded projects will reduce energy costs and increase reliability for rural Americans, who tend to pay more for energy, The White House said. #federalgovernment #ruralamerica #usda #energycosts #whitehouse #greenhousegas #infrastructure #cleanenergy

Amazing. As a former rural county supervisor, I can attest to the impact Biden has already had on our infrastructure. Roads and bridges that have been neglected for decades are now updated, and can carry the equipment farmers need to keep producing food. (For many years, farmers have had to go miles out of their way to be able to find a bridge they can use to get to fields or to grain elevators.) Rural tourism entrepreneurs like me don't have to worry as much about customers popping tires on the way here! However, the general public doesn't really understand how roads are maintained or funded, let alone hidden infrastructure like clean water delivery systems or waste treatment, so I'm not sure the impact these investments have on public opinion/elections.

These kinds of funding streams are critical for rural communities to continue to prosper. Although these projects specifically look at rural communities who are transitioning from traditional power production to clean power, they still promote growth, diversification, equity and resilience; All things we could all use.

Rural communities mobilize to unlock benefits of federal clean energy investments The federal government is placing big bets on the leadership role rural communities will play in building resilient clean energy futures, which should be a call to action for the […] #transformfm #ifma #ashe

#Budget2025 brings unprecedented capital expenditure to fast-track the National Development. Leveraging windfall revenue, the Government aims to tackle infrastructure challenges in key sectors: Housing, Energy, Water, and Transport. Michele Connolly, Paul O'Neill and Kieran Collins from our Infrastructure team break down what these measures mean for Ireland’s infrastructure and highlight the non-financial barriers to overcome for accelerated delivery 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: 🏠 Housing: €1.25 billion boost for the Land Development Agency, totaling €6.25 billion for housing needs. ⚡ Energy: €750 million for EirGrid to enhance the national grid and support decarbonization. 💧 Water: €1 billion for Uisce Éireann to tackle urban wastewater and support new housing connections. 🚆 Transport: €2.9 billion for the Department of Transport to advance essential projects. Discover more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ePuZBKfg

Empowering Tomorrow: Programs like this are assuring Clean, Reliable, and Affordable Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future.