News

USDA invests $633M in climate/infrastructure projects

Ag Secretary Vilsack says the USDA is investing more than $600 Million dollars in nearly 800 climate smart and resilient infrastructure projects in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Three million dollars goes to nine states (including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan) to help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends, “To expand access to higher blends of biofuels with the corresponding environmental benefit of less greenhouse gas footprint for those fuels as well as lowering costs at the pump for consumers.”

He says the funds will help those facilities share the costs of installing fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure.

While some projects are small, others are large, “An $85.7 Million loan for large scale solar photovoltaic farm in Illinois which will provide wholesale power to 23 distributive cooperatives in Illinois, Indiana, and, Missouri.”

Dessor Plains Solar will build the farm in Fayette County, Illinois.

Vilsack says rural America is on the front lines of climate change and these programs will create good paying jobs and save people money on their energy costs.