LA CROSSE, WI— The Trump Administration has affirmed Dairyland Power Cooperative’s $595 million New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) grant award, first announced in September 2024. With the vital support of President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rawlins, this transformative award will benefit Dairyland’s cooperative members and rural communities from three major standpoints:
Resource diversification to support rural communities, economic growth and U.S. energy
independence
Downward rate pressure for rural residents
Increased grid reliability and resilience resulting from critical transmission line upgrades
Through a streamlined and improved process, and in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dairyland will continue to pursue over 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power purchase agreements for clean energy projects in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dairyland’s New ERA award will create job opportunities, support economic development and generate new sources of tax revenue for local communities.
In addition, New ERA will facilitate transmission infrastructure projects to ensure a reliable grid to meet growing energy demand and support an all-of-the-above resource portfolio. The award will allow Dairyland to advance clean energy transition plans more quickly and affordably. New ERA projects will accelerate Dairyland’s sustainability goals, resulting in significant reductions in carbon intensity, while strengthening grid reliability and energy affordability.
“In alignment with President Trump’s policy of unleashing American energy and natural resources, New ERA empowers rural America by allowing Dairyland to diversify resources and finance key transmission projects needed to support growth in rural areas,” said Dairyland President and CEO Brent Ridge.
“Dairyland strives every day to restore American prosperity and improve quality of life in the communities we serve, and we are excited to proceed with this incredible opportunity.”
Background: Dairyland submitted a Letter of Interest (LOI) for New ERA funding in September 2023 and received an invitation to proceed with the full application process in 2024. Dairyland received the funding award from the USDA in September 2024.
About Dairyland Power Cooperative: Headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., Dairyland provides the wholesale electrical requirements for 24 distribution cooperatives and 27 municipal utilities. These cooperatives and municipals, in turn, supply the energy needs of approximately 700,000 people in a four-state service area. Dairyland delivers electricity via 3,720 miles of transmission lines and 400 substations located throughout the system’s 44,500 square mile service area. Visit www.DairylandPower.com.
