Dunn Energy receives $18 million USDA electric infrastructure loan
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$18 MILLION LOAN — Officials from the United States Department of Agriculture, members of the Dunn Energy Cooperative Board of Directors and Dunn Energy officials gathered July 30 regarding an $18 million USDA loan for Dunn Energy and a $7,000 Rural Energy for America grant. From left: Dean Stokke, DEC director; Robyn Jensen, Rural Utility Service Field Service Representative; Julie Lassa, state director of USDA Rural Development; Dr. Basil Gooden, under secretary for Rural Development; Ed Hartung (back) DEC director; Jesse Singerhouse, DEC CEO; Karl Varnes, DEC director; and Michelle Wallace, deputy state director, USDA Rural Development. —photo submitted
by LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — Dunn Energy Cooperative has secured an $18 million loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build and to upgrade power lines and equipment.
Dr. Basil Gooden, under secretary for Rural Development, along with Julie Lassa, state director for Rural Development, and Robyn Jensen, field representative for the USDA Rural Development office, visited Dunn Energy on July 30 regarding the loan and a small grant awarded to Dunn Energy, according to a news release from Dunn Energy.
In addition to the $18 million loan, Dunn Energy received a $7,000 grant from the Rural Energy for America program to install more energy-efficient LED lights with motion sensors in the cooperative’s shop and in parts of the office.
The change in lighting is expected to save Dunn Energy more than $2,000 per year in energy costs, the news release states.
The loan from the USDA Rural Utilities Service will provide up to $18 million in funding over the next four years to help Dunn Energy in building or upgrading over 100 miles of power lines and for upgrading equipment.
“Energy issues are critical to our daily lives, our region, state and this country,” said Jesse Singerhouse, general manager of Dunn Energy, according to the news release.
“Achieving a balanced and practical approach to our long-term energy challenges is critical to providing Dunn Energy membership, and people across this country, with energy that is reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible just like our local mission,” he said.
According to the USDA’s website, “the electric program makes insured loan guarantees to non-profit and cooperative associations, public bodies and other utilities.
“Insured loans primarily finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas.
“The guaranteed loan program has been expanded and is now available to finance generation, transmission and distribution facilities, including system improvements and replacements required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems.”
Funds can be used to finance maintenance, upgrades, and expansion; to replace distribution, sub transmission and headquarters facilities; to improve energy efficiency; and to install renewable energy systems, according to the USDA website.
