RAMSEY, Minn., Dec. 20, 2024 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Minnesota Colleen Landkamer today announced Connexus Energy’s $170 million grant through USDA’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program.
“USDA is committed to enhancing the quality of life in rural Minnesota,” State Director Landkamer said. “This historic investment with Connexus Energy exemplifies USDA’s commitment in partnering with rural electric cooperatives to strengthen Minnesota’s energy security and lower electricity bills for hardworking families, farmers and small business owners.”
Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke highlighted the new investments at the Ramsey, Minnesota, headquarters of Connexus Energy, the state’s largest electric cooperative. Connexus will use nearly $170 million in New ERA grant funding to procure over 282 megawatts of renewable hydro, solar and wind energy. The cooperative also will purchase 20 megawatts of battery energy storage. These projects will lower costs for its members in rural Minnesota, support nearly 400 jobs and reduce climate pollution by more than 1.1 million tons each year.
“Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Connexus has been awarded $169.7 million in grant funding to support our journey toward a carbon-free energy mix for our rural electric cooperative,” Connexus Energy President and CEO Brian Burandt said. “This funding is a major milestone for Connexus and the communities we serve.”
Connexus is one of 10 rural electric cooperatives receiving funding in today’s announcement. USDA is awarding $4.37 billion in loans and grants to cooperatives based in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas. The investments will support at least 5,000 jobs and reduce climate pollution by over 11 million tons each year.
Additional details on all funding recipients and selectees are available on the New ERA website.
New ERA was made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936. New ERA program funding is available to member-owned rural electric cooperatives, which have been the backbone of America’s rural power delivery for nearly a century.
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