The US department of Agriculture is funding rural electricity supply improvements in 17 states with investment of up to $ 858 m , including more than $ 60 million for smart grid technologies . The Electric Loan funding programme will help construct and operate nearly 6,000 km of transmission lines to improve resilience and reliability , benefitting about 450,000 customers . Among the funds supported by the investment , the Rural Electric Cooperative in Arkansas will receive $ 260 m , while the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in Arizona will be loaned $ 250 m and the Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation in North Texas and Georgia will receive $ 38 m .
The US Department of Agriculture is backing rural electricity supply improvements in 17 states with investment of up to $858m, including more than $60m for smart grid technologies. The Electric Loan funding programme will help construct and upgrade nearly 6,000 km of transmission lines to improve resilience and reliability, benefitting about 450,000 customers. Among the schemes supported by the investment, the Carroll Electric Cooperative in Arkansas will receive $260m, while the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in Arizona will be loaned $94m and the Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation in North Carolina and Georgia will receive $38m.