United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack hosted a press conference to spotlight new investment projects taking place across rural communities in the country including in eastern Kentucky.
Vilsack talked about projects the Department of Agriculture is investing in through the departments through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program (PACE) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The Department is providing more than $375 million in funding through both programs.
Vilsack says the investments the department is making in both REAP and PACE will lead to lower utility costs for farmers, environmental improvements and support existing and new rural jobs.
Appalachian Hydro Associates (AHA), a hydropower developer in Ravenna, Kentucky was one of the companies to receive funds from the PACE program. AHA President David Brown Kinloch shared that the PACE investment will allow start a hydroelectric project along Kentucky River.
Kinloch says the project will allow AHA to lower power costs for co-op members by around 17% and increase job opportunities for those in Appalachia. The project is owned by Berea College and Kinloch says profits from the project will support low-income students pursuing higher education at the college.
Kinloch says the project will also support economic and recreational development in the Appalachian region.