Funding Will Lower Electricity Costs and Spur Economic Growth for Families and Businesses in Rural Nevada
CARSON CITY, Nev., Sept. 25, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad today announced that USDA is moving forward in the awards process with eight new clean energy projects through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program, including a $13.3 million investment in Nevada’s Harney Electric Cooperative to finance a 5-megawatt solar power facility. USDA previously announced the investment of $80.3 million in PACE funding to Pahrump cooperative Valley Electric Association to install a 37-megawatt solar power generation and storage system.
If approved, the investment would help lower electricity bills for households, expand reliable access to renewable energy and create jobs for rural families, small businesses and agricultural producers, including those in the Rural Partners Network’s 95-80 Community Network, which would be supported by this investment.
“Rural electric cooperatives and utilities are the backbone of America’s power delivery and when we invest in them, we strengthen the nation’s energy security,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is proud to partner with these organizations to create a more affordable and sustainable future benefiting rural families, businesses and the health of our planet for generations to come.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to illustrate its commitment to ensuring rural Nevadans receive power that is sustainable, reliable, and affordable,” State Director Ingvoldstad said. “This dedication has been displayed through landmark investments in Nevada’s rural electric cooperatives, propelling climate resilience across the state. We’re proud to support families in Nevada’s Rural Partners Network communities, and we look forward to the impact this investment will have right here in the 95-80 Community Network.”
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.
In Nevada, Harney Electric Cooperative plans to use 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.
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, with Nevada having already received $80.3 million from a previous PACE announcement in August.
Background: Rural Partners Network
USDA-RD is the lead agency for the Rural Partners Network, an alliance of federal agencies and commissions, including U.S. Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration, working directly with rural communities to expand rural prosperity through job creation, infrastructure development, and community improvement.
USDA RD-NV has in-state RPN staff dedicated as community liaisons in five selected Community Networks to provide technical assistance and connect resources and staff from across the Federal government to improve access to programs and advance local projects. These collaborations drive local efforts to enhance the economy and improve the quality of life for local households. Each Community Network is a distinct entity managed and led by local community members.
The five Community Networks are as follows: