United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director Molly Hammond today announced the Department is investing $188,791,594 to reduce the impacts of climate change on Illinois rural communities. As part of the Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying jobs, and combating the climate crisis top priorities.
“Illinois rural communities will benefit from these investments that will strengthen our resilience,” Hammond said. “With these investments, USDA is expanding access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs.”
Background:
Hammond highlighted 72 investments that USDA is making in three programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These programs include Electric Loan Program, Rural Energy for America Program, and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
The funding will help people all throughout the state. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development helps rural residents, businesses and communities address economic development, infrastructure, and social service needs.
These investments will help build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. They will also help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure.
Examples of projects in this announcement from around the state include:
- Dressor Plains Solar will use an $85.7 million Electric Infrastructure loan to construct a 99-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm on 609 acres in Fayette County, Ill. Dressor Plains has a 27-year power purchase agreement with Wabash Valley Power Association, Inc. (Wabash) to sell and deliver the electricity produced. Wabash provides wholesale power to 23 distribution cooperatives in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.
- Prairie State Solar LLC will use a $95.2 million Electric Infrastructure loan to construct a 99-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm on 621 acres in Perry County, Ill., about 50 miles southeast of St. Louis. Prairie State has a 27-year power purchase agreement with the Wabash Valley Power Association Inc. to sell and deliver the electricity produced. Wabash is an electric generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Indianapolis. It provides wholesale power to 23 distribution cooperatives in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.
- M Sons LLC will use a $170,000 High Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels This project will replace five dispensers and three storage tanks at three of M Sons LLC’s fueling stations located in Illinois. Locations impacted by this grant are: Wheeling and Chicago (2). This project will increase the amount of ethanol sold by 277,378 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.
In addition to these projects, USDA made 69 Rural Energy for America Program loans and grants throughout the state.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, 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. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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, ensuring access to 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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