[1st-mile-nm] USDA Energy Loan Funding 2020

[Richard Lowenberg]

Energy and broadband networking infrastructure are complementary and 
ought to be more integrated, technically and economically.

 From the USDA, here are two projects in NM to receive loan funding, 
along with two other projects that I've selected, in Arkansas/Oklahoma 
and in Texas, to deploy and utilize new fiber optic infrastructure.  
These 'smart grid' systems will hopefully provide access to fiber for 
broadband networking as well.

RL

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USDA Energy Loan Funding 2020
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_RD_Electric_Loans_NR_CHART006222020.pdf

Socorro Electric Cooperative Inc.   $28,102,000
This Rural Development investment will be used to connect 485 consumers 
and build and improve 45 miles of distribution line along with 25 of 
transmission line for the Magdalena Transmission Line Rebuild project. 
This loan includes $2,424,000 in smart grid technologies. Socorro 
Electric, headquartered in Socorro, N.M., serves nearly 13,000 consumers 
through 3,261 miles of distribution line and 42 miles of transmission 
line in Catron, Cibola, Sierra, Valencia and Socorro counties.

Syncarpha Taos   $3,600,000
This Rural Development investment will be used to develop a 3.12 
megawatt groundmounted, single-axis, tracking solar photovoltaic farm in 
Taos County.

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Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation   $151,488,000
This Rural Development investment will be used to install 6,140 miles of 
fiber-optic cable for Smart Grid purposes on 100 percent of Arkansas 
Valley's power distribution lines that will supply a secure high-speed 
communications path to all their substations and downline devices. 
Arkansas Valley, headquartered in Ozark, Ark., serves nearly 60,000 
members over 6,622 miles of line in 10 counties Arkansas and three 
counties in Oklahoma.

United Cooperative Services   $40,328,000
This Rural Development investment will be used to install 679 miles of 
fiber-optic cable to provide a backbone communications network for Smart 
Grid to improve reliability and grid communication. United, 
headquartered in Cleburne, Texas, serves approximately 85,300 members 
over almost 10,600 miles of line in 16 counties.


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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