WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $349 million in funding for 15 rural electric infrastructure projects to build or improve more than 1,844 miles of transmission and distribution lines for rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 13 states.

“Eighty years ago, USDA took on the challenge of bringing power to rural America and it helped make this the greatest, most productive country on Earth,” said Vilsack. “Today we are continuing that commitment by investing in the next generation of power transmission – smart grid technology – to make our electric system more reliable, efficient and effective. Upgrading the electric grid will not only improve reliability and better manage costs, but it will also bring jobs and increased economic opportunities, helping to build a sustainable and dynamic future for rural residents and businesses.”

The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Electric Program, which makes insured loans and loan guarantees to non-profit and cooperative associations, public bodies and other utilities. The loans primarily finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas.

Vilsack visited Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative’s headquarters in Wilton, Iowa, July 17 to announce the largest of the loans – $44 million. It will help improve nearly 350 miles of electric distribution lines throughout eastern Iowa. The loan includes $580,000 in smart-grid technology and other improvements such as the installation of automated substation re-closers, or large circuit breakers that can be controlled remotely to turn off power during storms, new advanced metering infrastructure for system users and 60 new substation control buildings to protect the new equipment and technologies.

More than $5.3 million of the loan will be used to improve electric lines that were damaged during historic ice storms impacting eastern Iowa from 2007 to 2009. The cooperative is using USDA’s electric loan program to complete additional upgrades to electric lines to help protect them against future storm damages.

Smart grid increases the reliability of electric power by helping utilities better manage the electric grid to improve operational efficiencies. It includes metering, substation automation, computer applications, two-way communications, geospatial information systems, and other system improvements.