03.01.17

Hoeven Announces $80 Million in USDA Rural Development Loans for Kem and Roughrider Electric Cooperatives

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded a total of $80 million in loans to Roughrider Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Dickinson and Hazen and Kem Electric Cooperative in Linton. 

The loans, which are awarded through the USDA Rural Utilities Service’s Electric Program, will fund the construction and improvement of more than 580 miles of power lines as well as system upgrades. The loans include nearly $1.5 million for the implementation of Smart Grid technology to increase the reliability and efficiency of electrical service. The awards are as follows:

  • • Roughrider Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $68 million loan – To fund the construction and improvement of 453 miles of line and includes about $1.2 million to support Smart Grid projects.
  • • Kem Electric Cooperative – $12 million loan – To fund the construction and improvement of 130 miles of line and includes $288,000 to support Smart Grid projects.

 “Today’s Rural Development loans will help the Roughrider and Kem electric cooperatives upgrade and build new power lines,” Hoeven said. “These upgrades are necessary for them to continue to serve rural residents in central and western North Dakota. The loans will also help finance important reliability and efficiency upgrades."

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