Rural electric co-ops in 14 states get millions for transmission and smart grid projects

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Rural electric cooperatives in 14 states will get a piece of $900 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help the utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America's electric infrastructure. The money comes from the USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service. The bulk of the money will be used to build nearly 1,500 miles of line and improve more than 1,700 miles of existing line in rural areas, but $19 million will go to smart grid technologies.

"Investments in smart grid technologies will give rural electric utilities and their consumers one more tool to better manage use of electricity, increase reliability and lower costs," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in making the announcement.

Click to page 2 for a list of the co-ops receiving funding and how they will use it.

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