Rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 15 states will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies. In making the announcement Wednesday – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said maintaining and upgrading rural electric systems creates jobs and supports economic development. He added that the loans would have a lasting impact on the rural landscape for generations to come.

USDA Rural Development moves closer to Secretary Vilsack’s goal of funding more than 250-million dollars for smart grid technologies with this announcement. Support for more than 10-million dollars in smart grid technologies is included. In total – 287-million dollars in loan guarantees were announced. The funding – provided by Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service – helps electric utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America’s electric infrastructure.