Thirteen rural utilities and cooperatives in 15 states have been selected to receive more than $271 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build and repair 4,339 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements that will benefit 56,006 rural customers.
Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc., Kindred, N.D., will receive a $22.5 million loan to build 404 miles of new lines, and make improvement to 210 miles of distribution lines. The improvements will serve 6,100 new and existing customers.
The funding is provided through USDA Rural Development's Electric Programs, which Congress authorized under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide loans and loan guarantees to help utilities, cooperatives, states and local governments provide or improve electric service in rural areas.
The Electric Program also helps finance energy conservation and renewable energy systems.
