La Plata Electric Association Selected to Move Forward in the Awards Process for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, Acting State Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Colorado, Irene Etsitty, announced that La Plata Electric Association in Durango, CO will move forward in the awards process for one of the first five awards under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program..
These projects will reduce electricity costs for hardworking families and small business owners to prevent power outages in the face of extreme weather exacerbated by the climate crisis. The investments will also strengthen the nation’s energy independence and good-paying jobs that benefit everyone.
La Plata Electric Association in Colorado is seeking $13.4 million to save more than half a million dollars in annual energy costs and deliver affordable clean solar energy to its member owners. This includes people living in distressed, disadvantaged and energy communities. It also includes people living on the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Tribal reservations.
Funding for the PACE program is made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. This historic legislative package is the nation’s largest-ever investment in rural electric energy since the New Deal.
In May 2023, USDA made $1 billion available through PACE to fund new clean energy projects and energy storage in rural America. The funding being requested today is critical in helping people heat their homes, run their businesses and power their cars, schools, hospitals and more.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov/co.