The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is putting US$2. 3 billion into projects increasing energy resilience in rural communities, with two energy storage projects already shortlisted for awards, in Arizona and Nebraska. . The PACE project investments will strengthen the nation's energy independence, provide good-paying jobs that benefit everyone, reduce pollution, and enhance the resiliency of our nation's electric grid. The funding comes under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE). . At the end of December 2024, the U. 4 billion in grant and loan financing to San Miguel Electric Cooperative, a utility provider that operates in rural Texas. The financing will go toward a total of 600 MW of renewable energy. . Created by the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), the ERA program prioritizes investments in solar energy, microgrids, battery energy storage systems, heat pumps, and hydroelectric power facilities in rural areas with populations of 10,000 or fewer.