The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced investments from the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs and grow clean power across nine states. The $3 billion funding from the New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program will go to rural energy cooperatives in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. 

The USDA announced the funding at an event in Westminster, Colorado, where officials joined the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to highlight the benefits of the nearly $2.5 billion in financing, made possible by a combination of grants and loans through the program. According to the USDA, Tri-State’s award is expected to reduce electricity rates by 10% for cooperative members by 2034, amassing $430 million in rural consumer benefits over ten years. The New ERA funds will finance the purchase of 1,040 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy and more than 200 MW of energy storage.

Following the announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance released a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:

“The Biden-Harris administration is investing in all of America, ensuring that rural communities reap economic benefits from the transition to cleaner, cheaper forms of energy. USDA’s New ERA program is driving investment in communities across the country—creating good-paying, union jobs for workers in areas that desperately need these opportunities and lowering utility bills for consumers.

“We applaud President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the USDA for this historic investment to build a clean, prosperous, and equitable future for all.”