BISMARCK, ND — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded more than $1.5 billion to North Dakota as part of a nationwide initiative to boost clean energy efforts across rural America. The funding, which is part of a larger $6 billion nationwide investment, was allocated through the USDA’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program.

The New ERA program, established under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to support clean energy projects that will lower electricity costs, create thousands of jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In total, the funding will lead to significant cuts in climate pollution, with North Dakota standing out as a key beneficiary of the initiative.

Erin Oban, USDA Rural Development State Director for North Dakota, expressed strong support for the program, emphasizing the long-term impact of these investments on the state’s rural communities. “Throughout the last four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized investments in and created tremendous opportunity for rural America. The impacts and legacy of those investments in our infrastructure, businesses, cooperatives, communities, and people here in North Dakota will be experienced for decades to come,” Oban said.

The New ERA program is also linked to the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the benefits from federal climate and clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities that have faced pollution and underinvestment.

Notably, Basin Electric and Great River Energy were recognized for their efforts to leverage the funding to advance clean energy projects that align with the goals of the New ERA program. These organizations are set to play a crucial role in helping to drive the transition to more sustainable energy sources across the region.

The $1.5 billion allocated to North Dakota represents a significant investment in the state’s clean energy future, with the potential to transform the local economy, reduce energy costs for residents and businesses, and contribute to broader efforts to combat climate change. The USDA’s commitment to rural America is seen as a critical step toward building a more resilient and sustainable future for communities across the country.