Funding Part of $6.3 Billion National Initiative to Create Clean, Reliable Electric Grid and Safe Drinking Water for Millions in Rural Communities
Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and Tribal communities across 44 states to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, provide safe drinking water and create good-paying jobs. Vermont and New Hampshire projects received $17,897,000.
See list below.
“The Biden-Harris Administration invests in rural America, because we know strong communities are rooted in their people,” Secretary Vilsack said. “These investments will build modern infrastructure that will attract employers to the nation’s smallest towns and most remote communities, creating jobs, vibrant Main Streets, and lasting economic growth for the people who live there.”
More than 200 projects are being financed to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure in rural places, growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up.
USDA is providing $5.7 billion in funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program (EIL) to help utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure and smart-grid technologies in 23 states.
These projects will help ensure everyone in rural America has access to reliable electricity to increase economic opportunity and improve quality of life. The Washington Electric Co-Op, which serves roughly 12,000 customers in north-central Vermont, secured a $11,195,000 EIL to connect 341 new consumers. 26 of the 1,300-miles of line will be built out or improved, and the loan includes $1,279,600 in smart grid technologies.
USDA is also investing nearly $642 million to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and storm water drainage for rural residents. The Department is making the investments through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants (WWDLG) program and the Solid Waste Management Grants program. The Bunker Lane Condominium Association in Madbury, NH, received a $458,000 WWDLG loan and $1,374,000 grant to replace on outdated water system by installing new lines and rebuilding the affected roads.
| STATE | RECIPIENT | LOAN | GRANT | DESCRIPTION |
| NH | Lakes Region Planning Commission | $125,000 | This Rural Development investment will be used to provide education and training for solid waste operators, community leaders, town committees, local businesses and residents in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. The primary purpose is to provide technical assistance and training to solid waste operators in order to 1- reduce the quantity and toxicity of the solid waste system, 2- create sustainable programs for municipal and construction solid waste disposal, and 3- lower the costs associated with solid waste management. | |
| NH | Bunker Lane Condominium Association of Unit Owners Inc. | $458,000 | $1,374,000 | This Rural Development investment will be used to replace the water supply system at Bunker Lane Condominiums. The project consists of the installation of a booster station near the metering station, and repair of the roads under which the new water lines will run. This 51-unit residential association in Madbury, New Hampshire has suffered low water pressure and leakages to the extent it is considered a health and sanitary concern. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services supports the replacement to address the concerns. Updating the system will allow this affordable housing community safe and sufficient water for generations. |
| NH | Town of Newport--COST OVERRUN | $2,500,000 | This Rural Development investment will be used to provide additional financing to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility in Newport, a small town in rural central New Hampshire. This project is required to meet current effluent discharge pollution limits, without which it is a health and sanitary risk to the community and downstream from Sugar River. This project is a fully comprehensive upgrade which addresses the current effluent treatment needs, as well as options to easily address future regulations. The wastewater treatment facility serves a population of 1,915 with 731 residential connections. Project funding was secured through congressionally directed spending via Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Additional funding comes from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services through an American Rescue Plan Act grant, Clean Water State Revolving Loan fund, and previous USDA WEP funding. | |
| $458,000 | $3,999,000 | |||
| $4,457,000 | ||||
| VT | Windy Hollow Mobile Home Cooperative Inc. | $299,000 | $1,946,000 | This Rural Development investment will be used to upgrade Windy Hollow Mobile Home Cooperative's water system in Castleton, Vermont. The project will address age-related needs of the water treatment facility by upgrading the water storage, treatment, pressurization, and distribution systems, and thereby improving residents' safety and health. The Cooperative serves 44 residential connections in the community. These facility upgrades will meet current design guidelines to improve water quality and system efficiency. The Cooperative will be able to operate in a more efficient manner, address current treatment limitations, and reduce maintenance and repair costs. |
| VT | Washington Electric Cooperative | $11,195,000 | This Rural Development investment will be used to connect 341 consumers, and build and improve 26 miles of line. This loan includes $1,279,600 in smart grid technologies. Washington Electric Coop is headquartered in East Montpelier, Vermont, and serves approximately 11,964 consumers over 1,347 miles of line throughout four counties in north central Vermont. | |
| $11,494,000 | $1,946,000 | |||
| $13,440,000 | ||||
| $17,897,000 | ||||
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Source: WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture
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