U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced electric infrastructure investments in Georgia totaling $313 million to help four Georgia electric cooperatives and utilities expand and modernize the rural electric grid and increase grid security.  The announcement was made from GreyStone Power Corporation in Hiram, Georgia where USDA is investing $141,938,000.

Greystone is receiving $141,938,000 to connect 10,948 consumers and build and improve 502 miles of line. This loan includes various smart grid projects in the amount of $32,330,400 including the installation of 96.10 miles of fiber backbone specifically to provide the backhaul of data from remote substations and offices back to the corporate headquarters. Greystone Power is headquartered in Hiram, Georgia and provides service to 141,146 customers over approximately 7,355 miles of line in eight counties in Georgia.

Located on the west side of Atlanta, GreyStone Power Corporation serves portions of eight metropolitan Atlanta counties including Douglas, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Coweta, Fayette, Carroll, and Bartow, some of the fastest growing areas not only in the state but in the nation. Their headquarters is located in Hiram.

Background:

USDA is investing in 64 projects through the Electric Loan Program. This funding will benefit nearly 2 million rural people and businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The loans include $613 million to help rural utilities and cooperatives install and upgrade smart grid technologies. Smart grid can be a catalyst for broadband and other telecommunications services in unserved and underserved rural areas in addition to improving grid security and reliability.

Nearly half of the awards will help finance infrastructure improvements in underserved communities.

The total investment in Georgia is $313 million, other electric infrastructure investments in Georgia announced today include:

  • Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative will receive $39,089,000 to connect 3,250 consumers and build and improve 338 miles of line. This loan includes $4,406,000 in smart grid technologies. Carroll EMC is headquartered in Carrollton, Georgia, and serves 53,439 consumers over 5,548 miles of line in seven counties in Georgia.
  •  Excelsior Electric Membership Corporation will receive $27,850,000 to connect 2,847 consumers and build and improve 317 miles of line. This loan includes $6,590,000 in smart grid technologies. Excelsior EMC is headquartered in Metter, Georgia, and serves 24,120 members over 3,435 miles of line in eight counties in Georgia.
  • Flint Electric Membership Corporation will receive $104,368,000 to connect 641 consumers and build and improve 115 miles of line. This loan includes various smart grid projects in the amount of $21,904,000 including the installation of 404 miles of backbone fiber to provide connectivity among the substations, automation devices and capacitor banks in the rural area. Flint Electric is headquartered in Reynolds, Georgia, and serves 90,302 consumers over 89,509 of energized line through 17 counties in central Georgia.