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.