Energy investments in infrastructure law will impact agriculture, rural America

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Energy investments in infrastructure law will impact agriculture, rural America

The president and CEO of the American Public Power Association says energy investments in the infrastructure law will benefit the agriculture sector.

Joy Ditto tells Brownfield “it will serve as a steppingstone to improve logistics and fortify our grid against extreme weather events that could harm farming communities and our domestic food system so we just believe the funding will help us shore some of that up.”

Sixty-five billion dollars in federal funding is allocated for electric and grid infrastructure.

She says the investments will help put rural communities on equal footing with urban areas.

“On cybersecurity and grid resilience, there’s $47 billion of funding available for electric utilities to enhance those areas and there is specific language directing the Department of Energy to work with smaller utilities such as those in rural areas to enhance their cybersecurity and grid resilience,” she says. “That’s helpful because this is a federal government funded effort so we’re not going to see utility bills rise as we make these enhancements which will benefit rural communities by having reliable electricity.”  

The $1.2 trillion infrastructure law includes funding for transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. Ditto says other energy investments will include electric and hydrogen vehicle fueling, smart grid investments, broadband, and more.

The American Public Power Association is the national trade association representing 2,000 publicly owned utilities that provide cost-based electricity to 49 million Americans in 49 states.

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Audio: Joy Ditto, American Public Power Association

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