NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 25, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Tennessee State Director Arlisa Armstong today announced that Tennessee has one of eight new clean energy projects moving forward in the awards process through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program. USDA Secretary Vilsack announced that the projects, if approved, will receive more than $248 million to help lower electricity bills for households, expand reliable access to renewable energy and create jobs for rural families, small businesses and agricultural producers.
Also today, USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andrew Berke joined White House Domestic Policy Advisor to the President, Neera Tanden, to highlight the projects at the Wisconsin Farmers Union’s Investing in Rural Wisconsin event.
The funding for USDA’s PACE program is from the Inflation Reduction Act, which is 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. The Inflation Reduction Act partners with rural communities to deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy.
“Investments through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program delivers clean, affordable energy to thousands of people and businesses in rural communities,” Armstrong said. “We are excited to partner with Bluestem Energy Solutions LLC to help create a cleaner, more sustainable future that will benefit rural families and businesses in southern Tennessee.”
In Tennessee:
- Bluestem Energy Solutions LLC, doing business as Lawrenceburg Solar, plans to use an $8.2 million investment to build a solar power facility that will produce 6.1 megawatts of renewable energy in rural portions of southern Tennessee. This will provide enough locally generated electricity to power 1,200 homes.
By using renewable energy from natural sources, these investments would make it more affordable for people to heat their homes, run their businesses, power cars, schools, hospitals and more.
In May 2023, USDA made $1 billion available through PACE to fund new clean energy projects and energy storage in rural America. This program provides low interest loans with up to 60% loan forgiveness to renewable energy developers, rural electric cooperatives and other rural energy providers for renewable energy storage and projects that use wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal and biomass.
It is part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
To date, USDA has selected 27 projects totaling more than $916 million to move forward in the PACE application process.
USDA expects to continue making PACE awards in the coming months.
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 health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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