![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.510416666666667in"
height="1.457638888888889in"}

Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384

**USDA AWARDS \$1.8 BILLION IN ELECTRIC LOANS**

***Funds Will Help More Than 90,000 Rural Customers in 26 States***

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2008 ---Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today
announced the selection of 33 rural utilities and cooperatives in 26
states to receive \$1.8 billion in loans to build and repair 7,600 miles
of distribution and transmission lines serving more than 90,000 rural
customers.

"USDA partners with utilities across the country to ensure the delivery
of affordable, reliable electrical power to rural communities," Schafer
said. "These loans are investments that will spur or expand development
opportunities and enhance the economic competitiveness for rural areas
as good places to live and work."

The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development's Utilities

Programs, which Congress authorized under the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936.

For example, Lacreek Electric Association, Inc. in Martin, South Dakota,
has been selected to received \$5,660,000 to build 27 miles of new
distribution line, make improvements to 61 miles of distribution lines
and other system improvements to serve 355 new and existing consumers.

USDA Rural Development has awarded approximately \$31 billion in
electric loans since 2001. Funding of each recipient is contingent upon
its meeting the conditions of the loan agreement. A complete list of the
selected recipients follows.

**2008 Electric Loan Recipients**

  ------------ ------------------------------------------- ---------------
  **State**    **Borrower**                                **Loan Amount**

  AL           South Alabama Electric Cooperative          \$25,523,000

  AL           Covington Electric Cooperative, Inc.        \$33,674,000

  AL           Central Alabama Electric Cooperative        \$44,089,000

  AL           Wiregrass Electric Cooperative              \$20,637,000

  CA, NV       Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative    \$7,900,000

  CO, NE, NM   Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. \$142,015,000
  WY           Inc.                                        

  CO, NM       La Plata Electric Association               \$20,514,000

  FL           Peace River Electric Cooperative, Inc.      \$64,903,000

  IA           Western Iowa Power Cooperative              \$1,633,000

  IA           Prairie Energy Coop.                        \$12,000,000

  IL           Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative         \$15,879,000

  IN           Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative   \$195,000,000

  KY           Jackson Energy Cooperative Corporation      \$19,695,000

  KY           Fleming-Mason Electric Cooperative, Inc.    \$10,934,000

  KY           Licking Valley Rural Electric Cooperative   \$11,978,000
               Corporation                                 

  ME           Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, Inc.    \$4,764,000

  MI           Alger-Delta Co-operative Electric           \$7,000,000
               Association                                 

  MI           Thumb Electric Cooperative                  \$13,000,000

  MI, IN, OH   Midwest Energy Cooperative                  \$20,000,000

  MN           Meeker Cooperative Light & Power            \$12,000,000
               Association                                 

  MO           Gasconage Electric Cooperative              \$5,577,000

  MS           Coast Electric Power Association            \$7,324,000

  ND           Nodak Electric Cooperative, Inc.            \$32,500,000

  OH           Carroll Electric Cooperative, Inc.          \$8,000,000

  OK           Red River Valley Rural Electric Association \$5,515,000

  SC           Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Inc.     \$69,814,000

  SD, NE       Lacreek Electric Association, Inc.          \$5,660,000

  TX           Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.     \$695,692,000

  TX           Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc.  \$25,572,000

  TX           Bartlett Electric Cooperative, Inc.         \$7,220,000

  VA           Southside Electric Cooperative              \$22,000,000

  VA, MD       A&N Electric Cooperative                    \$51,000,000

  WI, IA, IL,  Dairyland Power Cooperative                 \$195,564,000
  MI, MN                                                   
  ------------ ------------------------------------------- ---------------

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and
improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has
invested more than \$110 billion since 2001 for equity and technical
assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business
development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More
than 2 million jobs have been created or saved through these
investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a
local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural
Development's web site at
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/) .

\#