BENSON, Ariz. (Jun. 27, 2024) – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Arizona Charlene Fernandez today announced that USDA is awarding approximately $55.2 million to Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services Inc. through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program (PACE) to finance three battery energy storage system projects totaling 35 megawatts and lasting for four hours in duration.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is carrying our promise to affordable clean energy in rural Arizona. This $55.2 million federal investment for rural green energy will promote economic growth, job creation, and sustainability across Pima, Santa Cruz, Graham, Cochise, Greenlee, and Mohave Counties,” says State Director Fernandez. “Rural Development is empowering rural communities to take charge of their energy future and contribute to President Biden’s national goal of reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.”
USDA is partnering with rural Americans on hundreds of clean energy projects, including Arizona’s Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, to lower energy bills, expand access to clean energy and create jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Many of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis. USDA also unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” to make it easier for rural communities to identify federal funding for clean energy, including programs made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act.
In all, USDA is providing more than $375 million in funding through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program (PACE) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Both of these programs are part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
USDA expects to continue making Powering Affordable Clean Energy awards in the coming months.
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. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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