RPC Celebrates $29 Billion in Clean Energy Investments in Wind, Solar, and Energy Storage for Rural Communities
It’s been over two years since the Inflation Reduction Act officially funded the $9.7B Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program RPC had championed. In that time, we’ve stayed vigilant, mobilized public comments, co-developed guidelines for Community Benefits Plans (CBPs), and regularly met with members of Congress, USDA officials, and other key stakeholders to ensure that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a just transition for rural communities was fully realized.
Today, we’re excited to share that the first round of New ERA projects with a total investment of $29 billion has been announced with $7.3 billion in federal support for Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs). These investments in 16 cooperatives, benefitting roughly 20% of rural residents across 23 states, promise to revolutionize rural America's energy landscape with 10,000 MW of clean power, including investments in wind, solar, agrivoltaics, and battery storage.
Collectively, these projects are set to bolster the nation's energy independence, create 4,500 permanent jobs and 16,000 construction jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45.371 million tons annually (equivalent to taking 10 Million cars off the road every year!), and enhance the resilience of America's rural electric grid—all while prioritizing clean, renewable energy sources that benefit both the environment and local communities.
“The Rural Power Coalition is committed to supporting co-ops to develop robust community benefits plans that support rural communities to capitalize on these clean energy investments while ensuring energy is generated sustainably and affordably for member-owners,” said Erik Hatlestad. “To jumpstart that process, RPC has created an accessible guide to CBPs.”
Dairyland Power Cooperative, for example, will leverage nearly $573 million in New ERA funding to implement four wind and four solar installations across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois. This project will not only significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also lower electric rates by 42% over ten years, thanks to a total project investment of $2.1 billion. With initiatives like the Farmer Benefit Plan and Union Engagement Plan, Dairyland Power is leading the charge in demonstrating how renewable energy investments can support both economic growth and environmental stewardship in rural communities.
Other cooperatives, such as Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, are making transformative strides by retiring 1,100 megawatts of coal-fired generation in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico and procuring 1,480 megawatts of renewable energy through solar, wind, and battery storage across rural portions of Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming. This shift represents a bold commitment to a clean energy future, creating nearly 2,200 new jobs and reducing climate pollution by nearly 5.8 million tons annually—the equivalent of taking 1.4 million gasoline-powered cars off the road each year. Tri-State’s ambitious efforts are set to save members $422 million over 20 years while providing rural communities with cleaner air, a more resilient energy grid, and an economic boost through job creation and community benefits programs.
Similarly, cooperatives like CORE Electric Cooperative, Golden Valley Electric Association, and East Kentucky Power Cooperative are investing heavily in proven technologies, including solar, wind, and battery storage projects that will not only cut down greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tons annually but also generate thousands of jobs, enhance grid reliability, and lower energy costs for rural residents. These projects embody the spirit of the New ERA program by promoting sustainability, local economic development, and community engagement through job training, educational opportunities, and workforce diversity initiatives.
“We’re so excited that the New ERA program is empowering East Kentucky Power Cooperative to invest in solar projects that will help lower energy bills for more than 1 million Kentucky families and businesses. This is especially important considering that the rest of Kentucky’s largest utilities have proposed risky new investments in fossil fuel generation assets.”
However, not all projects selected under the New ERA program align with RPC’s priorities.
It's imperative that we remain focused on advancing projects that genuinely support rural communities and the environment. The cooperatives championing wind, solar, agrivoltaics, and battery storage projects that deliver strong community benefits exemplify the transformative potential of renewable energy in rural America.
Member-owners are encouraged to check if their community is receiving rewards here and to share RPC’s guide to creating Community Benefits Plans with their co-ops.
Join us in celebrating the transformation of the rural energy sector that is now underway!
Find all the details about the New ERA projects announced today here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program
Find information about the Inflation Reduction Act created Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program recipients that have been previously announced here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/powering-affordable-clean-energy-pace-program
For Press Inquiries, contact Tom Llewellyn: tom@shareable.net | 925-876-2942