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Released May 17, 2023 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is injecting $10.7 billion into U.S. rural communities to develop renewable energy, the largest single federal investment in rural electrification since 1936, according to an announcement from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsak. Two programs will offer utilities, rural electric cooperatives (co-ops) and renewable-energy developers funding to bring affordable, clean energy to "vulnerable, disadvantaged and indigenous communities." Industrial Info already is tracking more than $300 billion worth of renewable-energy projects, already funded or proposed, in the states most likely to be affected by the programs.
The larger of the two programs, called "Empowering Rural America," makes $9.7 billion available to eligible rural co-ops to deploy renewable-energy systems, zero-emission and carbon-capture systems. The other, called "Powering Affordable Clean Energy," makes $1 billion available in partially forgivable loans to renewable-energy developers and electric service providers--including municipals, co-ops, and investor-owned and tribal utilities--to help finance large-scale renewable-generation projects, according to the USDA.
Funding for both programs comes from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Co-ops power 56% of U.S. land, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which represents more than 900 electric cooperatives across the nation. The co-ops represented by NRECA serve 42 million people, including 92% of U.S. counties facing persistent poverty conditions, according to the organization. A relatively small number of renewable-generation projects in Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database are owned by co-ops, but these entities often purchase power from other generators on behalf of their customers.
States with the most area serviced by co-ops tend to be toward the center of the continental U.S.: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi, according to the NRECA.
Click on the image at right for a graph detailing active and proposed renewable-energy projects in these states, by fuel type.
Texas alone accounts for more than half of the $300 million-plus of already funded or proposed investments, including two of the largest proposed solar projects in the nation: the Tehuacana Creek Solar project in Corsicana, which is designed to generate 509 megawatts (MW), and an expansion of the Pecan Prairie Solar Farm in Jewett, which would add 350 MW to the existing 150-MW facility. Developers are seeking permits for both projects, which could begin construction as early as 2024 and 2025, respectively. Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI database can learn more from detailed reports on the Tehuacana Creek and Pecan Prairie projects.
New Mexico is home to one of the highest-valued wind-energy projects in the U.S. that is set to begin construction later this year: Pattern Energy Group LP's (San Francisco, California) $2 billion SunZia Wind project in Capitan. Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's May 17, 2023, article - Pattern Energy Signs PPAs for Major SunZia Wind Project.
One of the highest-valued windfarms under construction can be found in Montana: NextEra Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) $1.5 billion Clearwater Energy Windfarm in Rock Springs, which is divided into a 365-MW Phase I and a 385-MW Phase II. The facility comprises 131 and 137 turbines, respectively, provided by General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Boston, Massachusetts). Both phases are set to be completed toward the end of the year. Subscribers can read detailed reports on Phase I and Phase II.
Scout Clean Energy, which was acquired last year by Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE:BEP) (Toronto, Ontario), recently started site preparation for its $385 million Sweetland Windfarm in Miller, South Dakota. The facility, which is slated to finish construction in the fourth quarter, is designed to generate 200 MW from 71 turbines from GE. Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's project report.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for active or proposed renewable-energy projects in the states most likely to be affected by the USDA programs.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
The larger of the two programs, called "Empowering Rural America," makes $9.7 billion available to eligible rural co-ops to deploy renewable-energy systems, zero-emission and carbon-capture systems. The other, called "Powering Affordable Clean Energy," makes $1 billion available in partially forgivable loans to renewable-energy developers and electric service providers--including municipals, co-ops, and investor-owned and tribal utilities--to help finance large-scale renewable-generation projects, according to the USDA.
Funding for both programs comes from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Co-ops power 56% of U.S. land, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which represents more than 900 electric cooperatives across the nation. The co-ops represented by NRECA serve 42 million people, including 92% of U.S. counties facing persistent poverty conditions, according to the organization. A relatively small number of renewable-generation projects in Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database are owned by co-ops, but these entities often purchase power from other generators on behalf of their customers.
States with the most area serviced by co-ops tend to be toward the center of the continental U.S.: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi, according to the NRECA.
Click on the image at right for a graph detailing active and proposed renewable-energy projects in these states, by fuel type.Texas alone accounts for more than half of the $300 million-plus of already funded or proposed investments, including two of the largest proposed solar projects in the nation: the Tehuacana Creek Solar project in Corsicana, which is designed to generate 509 megawatts (MW), and an expansion of the Pecan Prairie Solar Farm in Jewett, which would add 350 MW to the existing 150-MW facility. Developers are seeking permits for both projects, which could begin construction as early as 2024 and 2025, respectively. Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI database can learn more from detailed reports on the Tehuacana Creek and Pecan Prairie projects.
New Mexico is home to one of the highest-valued wind-energy projects in the U.S. that is set to begin construction later this year: Pattern Energy Group LP's (San Francisco, California) $2 billion SunZia Wind project in Capitan. Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's May 17, 2023, article - Pattern Energy Signs PPAs for Major SunZia Wind Project.
One of the highest-valued windfarms under construction can be found in Montana: NextEra Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) $1.5 billion Clearwater Energy Windfarm in Rock Springs, which is divided into a 365-MW Phase I and a 385-MW Phase II. The facility comprises 131 and 137 turbines, respectively, provided by General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Boston, Massachusetts). Both phases are set to be completed toward the end of the year. Subscribers can read detailed reports on Phase I and Phase II.
Scout Clean Energy, which was acquired last year by Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE:BEP) (Toronto, Ontario), recently started site preparation for its $385 million Sweetland Windfarm in Miller, South Dakota. The facility, which is slated to finish construction in the fourth quarter, is designed to generate 200 MW from 71 turbines from GE. Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's project report.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for active or proposed renewable-energy projects in the states most likely to be affected by the USDA programs.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
