The New ERA (Empowering Rural America) program administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is transformative, providing $9.7 specifically for rural electric cooperatives to build out their clean energy capacity. The potential for this funding to reshape rural co-ops and communities by building out clean energy capacity, modernizing rural electric systems, creating jobs and boosting rural economies has not been lost on Tri-State Generation and its member co-ops across Colorado and New Mexico. Combined, they have submitted letters of interest to RUS for a share of more than $1 billion in New ERA funding, which is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA.

 

Their applications have strong support at all levels of government across the state.

 

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack and RUS Administrator Berke. Read it here.

 

Gov. Jared Polis, a champion of clean energy, offered his overwhelming endorsement, urging RUS to select the Colorado submissions. Read it here.

 

More than five dozen town and city council representatives and state legislators signed a letter of support. Read it here.

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Rocky Mountain Farmers Union sent a letter to Tri-State noting the organization's support for Tri-State's application for New Era funding. Read it here.

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New Mexico State legislators and local elected leaders sent a letter of support to RUS. Read it here.

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