Farm Bill Program Helps Rural Communities Invest in Energy Savings

The Partnership for Advancing an Inclusive Rural Energy Economy, a collaboration between the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, held a livecast on how rural electric cooperatives are delivering cutting-edge inclusive energy efficiency programs for their members—saving them money while supporting local economic development. This livecast included information about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services (RUS) loan program that co-ops can take advantage of to help deliver these benefits.

Roanoke Electric's "Upgrade to $ave" program and the "Help My House" program available to South Carolina's co-ops offer on-bill financing to help members afford cost-saving home energy upgrades. With on-bill financing, members repay their co-ops over time as part of their monthly electric bills, and the programs are designed so that members of all income levels can participate.  

For more information, please contact info@ncba.coop.