USDA provides over $20 million in loans to help over 11,000 SW MN electric customers

The United States Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that communities in southwest Minnesota will receive over $20 million in loans to help improve electric lines to over 11,000 customers.

The Brown County Rural Electric Association, based in Sleepy Eye, will receive an $8 million loan to connect 189 consumers, and build and improve 54 miles of line. This loan includes $555,900 in smart grid technologies. The Brown County Rural Electric Association serves an average of 4,531 members over 1,515 miles of line in eight counties in south-central Minnesota.

Also, the Nobles Cooperative Electric, based in Worthington, will receive a $12.5 million loan to connect 201 customers, and build and improve 114 miles of line. This loan includes $1,480,500 in Smart Grid technologies. Nobles Cooperative Electric serves approximately 6,800 members over 2,273 miles of line in nine counties in Minnesota and two counties in Iowa.