More News

New solar photovoltaic facility to be built in Bladen County; $35 million in USDA funding granted as part of PACE Investments

By Staff Report, posted 3 months ago

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $474 million in clean energy investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs in rural North Carolina today, Jan. 13.

Rural electric cooperatives and communities will use the funding to support thousands of jobs, lower electricity costs for businesses and families and reduce climate pollution by tons each year.

“In just two years, the New ERA and PACE programs have created dozens of new partnerships with rural electric cooperatives and communities that will reduce pollution, create jobs and make clean energy more affordable for millions of rural Americans,” Secretary Vilsack said in a press release. “These investments we’re making today will continue to support the health, prosperity and well-being of rural Americans for generations to come.”

In Bladen County, HCE Oakland Solar LLC is expected to receive a $35 million loan to build a solar photovoltaic facility capable of producing 40 megawatts of renewable energy. This will provide enough electricity to power 5,300 homes per year.

The project will generate more than 70 short and long-term jobs. It will also provide power to the utility system at a cost savings of approximately $16.9 million over the contract term. The project is in a disadvantaged area known as a Justice40 tract, which has four qualifying categories, including energy.

The energy generated by the facility will be sold to North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and transmitted to the cooperatives which it serves.

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT

In The Current Issue

Cape Fear Regional Theatre hosts official groundbreaking for Act 2: Expansion and Renovation

Cape Fear Regional Theatre officially broke ground on an expansion and renovation of their facility at 1209 Hay St. on April 7. Photos by GFBJ.At noon today, April 7, Cape Fear Regional Theatre officially broke ground on an expansion and renovation o


DistiNCtly Fayetteville announces the first ever Fayetteville Tourism Awards and Annual Tourism Summit

DistiNCtly Fayetteville is calling all hospitality businesses throughout Cumberland County’s vast tourism industry to submit their nominations for the 2025 DistiNCtly Fayetteville Tourism Awards coming to the community on Sept. 18, 2025. This is


Quite an improvement: Fort Bragg's homestead project brings $91 million investment to improve military housing

Renovations to a roof in the Pope Army Airfield's Hillcrest neighborhood is part of the Homestead Project. Photo by Jason Ragucci, Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Office.Fort Bragg is undergoing a transformation with the launch of the Homestead Pr