$7.3 Billion rural clean energy plan unveiled

Sep 06, 2024
By Farms.com

President announces historic funding for rural America's green future

President alongside USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has launched a sweeping $7.3 billion investment in rural America's clean energy future. This funding, derived from the New ERA program, represents the largest investment in rural electrification since the New Deal.

This initiative will empower 16 rural electric cooperatives to harness over 10 gigawatts of renewable energy across 23 states, directly benefiting one in five rural Americans. These efforts aim to dramatically cut energy costs and environmental impact, projecting to eliminate over 43.7 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.

The extensive plan includes diverse energy sources, ranging from wind and solar to nuclear and hydropower, and is set to create thousands of jobs.

Dairyland Power Cooperative, a key recipient, anticipates significant rate reductions, leveraging nearly $573 million in funding for various renewable projects.

Integral to this plan is the Justice40 Initiative, which ensures that disadvantaged communities receive a substantial share of the benefits. The USDA's involvement extends beyond funding, focusing on comprehensive community and economic development.

This bold step by the administration not only aims to revitalize rural America's infrastructure but also positions the country at the forefront of the global shift towards sustainable energy solutions, ensuring a brighter, cleaner future for all rural Americans.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

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