Thursday 20 September 2018

US invests $398.5m to improve rural power infrastructure

The US is investing $398.5 million (£300m) in an effort to improve the electricity infrastructure in rural areas across 13 states.

The projects will include the installation of smart grid technology to increase the reliability and efficiency of the grid in rural communities.

The states include Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

The US Department of Agriculture, which is providing the funding, said: “The Department’s support for rural co-operatives and utilities underscored Secretary [Sonny] Perdue’s priority to promote rural economic development by centering around three principles: infrastructure, partnerships and innovation.

“Investing in electric infrastructure has increased productivity and improved the quality of life in rural areas for nearly 80 years.”