Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) announced a $10 million loan award to Middle Georgia EMC and a $32.5 million loan award to Southern Rivers Energy from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Electric Loan Program which helps modernize and improve the reliability of rural electric grids.
“Ensuring that families, farmers, and businesses have dependable access to electricity and a modern electrical grid is vital to maintain the economic well-being and quality of life in our rural communities,” said Congressman Bishop. “This loan will help these power providers build and improve nearly over 700 miles of electric line, connect over 3000 electric consumers, and invest in ‘Smart Grid’ technology as they serve customers in Bibb, Crawford, Dooly, and Macon Counties.”
The Electric Loan Program loans and loan guarantees finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy efficiency and conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems.
Loans are made to cooperatives as well as to corporations, states, territories and subdivisions and agencies such as municipalities, people's utility districts, and nonprofit, limited-dividend, or mutual associations that provide retail electric service needs to rural areas or supply the power needs of distribution borrowers in rural areas.
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