A direct loan through the USDA RD Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program will help construct a 100,000-gallon water tank

Champaign, Ill., Sept. 2, 2025 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) State Director Jesus Ortega announced today that USDA RD is providing the Calhoun County Rural Water District with a direct loan of $3,069,000 to help ensure safe, reliable potable water for 3,500 residents in Calhoun County, Illinois.

Paw Paw Affordable Solar, LLC intends to develop a 2.5-MW solar farm including access roads, fencing, and associated utilities on 19 acres of agricultural land in the Village of Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan.

Staff Assignment Name: Suzanne Kopich
Project Submittal Date: 3/20/2025
Project Approval Date: 8/21/2025
DOE CE Applied: B5.16

Brief Project Description: Construction of a 2.0 MW solar electric generation facility and battery energy storage that will be sited on approximately 12 acres of previously disturbed agricultural land.

Staff Assignment Name: Maria Tur
Project Submittal Date: June 9, 2025
Project Approval Date: July 23, 2025
DOE CE Applied: B5.16

Project Description: T The project will provide a Renewable Energy Resource (RER) system and Energy Storage System (ESS) which will generate clean, renewable solar energy. The ESS will allow for load balancing and system support during peak demand periods. The renewable energy resource will consist of two megawatts of Solar photovoltaic (PV) connected to a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with the capacity to provide 1 megawatt of power for 4 hours.

Brief Project Description: Construct a 4.5 megawatt (MW-ac) solar energy facility including ancillary project facilities on approximately 20 acres within the study area of agricultural land. Tie in line to existing pole.

Staff Assignment Name: Damon Armstrong
Department of Energy Categorical Exclusion Applied: B5.16

Project Description: Construct a 25.03-megawatt (MW) direct current (DC)/20.86-MW alternating current (AC) solar generation facility within the boundaries of Pago Pago International Airport

Staff Assignment Name: Damon Armstrong
Department of Energy Categorical Exclusion Applied: B5.16

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced a $74,071,000 loan to build a replacement for McKenzie Memorial Hospital in Sandusky, improving access to quality healthcare for rural residents.

“This represents a long-term investment in Michigan’s Thumb, which is a crucial part of the state’s agricultural economy,” said Rollins.  “Providing quality, local health care is one of the cornerstones of restoring rural prosperity.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Zachary Swartz is appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the USDA Rural Development State Director for the state of Oklahoma. Director Swartz will implement President Trump’s America First agenda at USDA Rural Development, ensuring the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers remain a top priority.