Friday, Mar 2 2012 9:40PM
A leading member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently testified to Congress about the 2013 Budget for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
A leading member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently testified to Congress about the 2013 Budget for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Speaking in front of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, USDA Administrator Jonathan Adelstein made FY 2013 budget requests for various RUS programs related various areas, including to water and electric infrastructure and telecommunications projects in rural areas.
The USDA requested $6.1 billion in loans for rural electric projects including distribution, transmission and generation. The funds would be used to improve renewable energy plants and fossil fueled plants with carbon capture sequestration systems as the demand for electricity in rural areas is growing at 2 percent annually.
Also $690 million in loans were requested for the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program that works to meet demands for telecommunications in rural areas. Additionally, $94 million in loans would be created under the 2002 Farm Bill with revisions from the 2008 Farm Bill.
The USDA reports that the budget requests total over $496 million for the Water and Environmental Programs, as well as around $1.4 billion of requests for loans and grants for the water and waste needs in rural communities. Funds will go toward improving existing systems and replacing aging infrastructure.
For further information, check out this source: Power-eng.com