President Joe Biden joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for an event on Sept. 5 to award a $579 million New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) grant to Dairyland Power Cooperative for renewable energy development. The announcement was made at Vernon Electric Cooperative in Wisconsin.
The funds will develop projects totaling 1,020 megawatts (MW) of power purchase agreements for solar and wind energy installations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Projects include 593 MW of wind, 427 MW of solar and 60 MW of energy storage.
“This is the most significant, transformative investment in electricity and electrification and clean energy for rural America since FDR’s New Deal nearly 90 years ago,” said President Biden.
New ERA funding will accelerate Dairyland’s progress in reaching its carbon profile goals, resulting in a 3.3 million metric ton carbon reduction for an over 70% decrease in carbon emissions. Dairyland has retired 579 MW of coal generation since 2014 and reduced its coal generation investment by 60% since 1999.
“One in five rural Americans will benefit from these clean energy investments, thanks to partnerships with rural electric cooperatives like Dairyland,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Put simply, this is rural power, for rural America.”
Dairyland submitted a letter of interest for New ERA funding in September 2023 and received an invitation to proceed with the full application earlier this year. The portfolio of clean energy projects was cultivated to deliver significant carbon emissions reductions while supporting economic growth in Dairyland’s rural and agricultural service territories.
Headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., Dairyland Power provides the wholesale electrical requirements for 27 municipal utilities and 24 distribution electric cooperatives, including JCE Co-op, based in northwestern Illinois.
“Dairyland is honored to receive the New ERA award, which provides an incredible opportunity to accelerate deployment of renewable energy investments, facilitate economic growth and job creation, promote environmental stewardship and justice, all while lowering energy costs for rural communities,” said Dairyland President/CEO Brent Ridge.
Established by the Inflation Reduction Act, New ERA is a $9.7 billion program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in renewable energy. New ERA represents the largest investment in rural electrification since President Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936.
