USDA Selects Pennsylvania Electric Cooperative for New ERA Funding

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development-Pennsylvania Bob Morgan announced that Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc., would receive USDA funding through the Empowering Rural America (New Era) program. Together, New ERA and other investments in rural clean energy in the President’s Inflation Reduction Act make up the largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936 as part of the New Deal.  This announcement includes more than $7.3 billion in financing for 16 rural electric cooperatives in rural communities across the country.

“Rural communities are driving positive change in America,” Morgan said. “Through the New ERA program, rural communities are leading the way toward a greener and more prosperous future, ensuring a better quality of life for families and a healthier planet for all.”

The New ERA investment will help Allegheny Electric Cooperative add significant carbon-free resources to its generation portfolio. Their innovative project will help serve energy needs in rural portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, while reducing the carbon footprint of Allegheny and its 14-member electric distribution cooperatives.

New ERA funding will allow Allegheny to meet over 80 percent of its power requirements from carbon-free resources by 2026 and reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 100,000 tons annually. This proposal will reduce greenhouse gas pollution at a level equivalent of removing 22,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road annually. The opportunity to invest in clean energy resources makes Allegheny one of the most carbon-free generation and transmission cooperatives in America.

“We’re excited to be considered a selectee for New ERA funding,” said Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association and Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. President and CEO Steve Brame. “As the generation provider for 14 electric distribution cooperatives, Allegheny’s job is to deliver a safe, reliable, and affordable supply of energy to our member systems and the rural communities they serve. Through the support of New ERA funding, our proposed project has the benefit of adding zero-emissions resources to our generation portfolio – while keeping energy costs down for these cooperative communities.”

The full announcement is available here: national news release.

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