On September 25, 2024, USDA announced that it has partnered with organizations to move forward with eight new clean energy projects to bring affordable clean energy to rural America. The projects will be funded through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program which provides significant investment in rural electrification. The projects, if approved, will span across seven states and put over $248 million towards “help[ing] lower electricity bills for households, expand[ing] reliable access to renewable energy and creat[ing] jobs for rural families, small businesses and agricultural producers.”
Funding for the PACE program comes from IRA section 22001, which authorizes USDA to make low-interest loans to expand renewable electricity generation.