The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that three Oklahoma rural electric cooperatives will receive more than $40 million in federal loans for construction, improvement and repair projects.
A $15.7 million federal loan was awarded to the Central Rural Electric Cooperative to build or improve 34 miles of transmission and distribution line. Located in Stillwater, CREC or Central serves more than 20,000 meters in seven central Oklahoma counties.
Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. of Durant will receive nearly $11.7 million to build and improve 276 miles of line and enhance smart grid projects. Established in 1939, SEC has provided electrical service to rural residents in Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal and Johnston counties. The co-op has over 10,000 members, more than 2,600 miles of line and over 14,000 electrical meters.
A $13.8 million loan awarded to Harmon Electric Association of Hollis will allow the utility to build and improve 534 miles of line in Oklahoma and Texas, enhance smart grid projects and assist with restoration projects due to storm damage. Using power purchased from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Harmon Electric provides electricity to over 3,000 meters throughout portions of Harmon, Greer, Jackson, Kiowa and Beckham counties in southwestern Oklahoma and Hardeman and Childress counties in Texas.
“For 80 years, rural electric utilities have provided reliable and affordable electricity to help rural communities increase productivity and build stronger economies,” said Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary. “These loans will help them continue to do that. The utilities and cooperatives will use some of the money to finance energy efficiency projects, renewable fuel systems and smart grid technologies to increase our energy independence and improve rural electric infrastructure.”
The loans are provided through the Electric Program of the Rural Utilities Service, the successor to the Rural Electrification Administration. The funds represent a portion of $3.6 billion in loans to 82 projects in 31 states.