COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday that it has chosen six electric cooperatives to receive federal funding, one of which is in the Midlands.

Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (CEPC) is a Columbia-based electricity provider that provides electricity to 19 cooperatives throughout the Palmetto State.

CEPC will work with USDA to receive up to $500 million in grants and low-interest loans through the department’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program.

The USDA said the New ERA program is designed to help cooperatives across the country transition to using cleaner energy.

This money will be used to add 700 megawatts of nuclear power, solar power and battery storage to the CEPC system. CEPC said it specifically intends to purchase electricity from solar farms as well as the Catawba Nuclear Generating Station in York County.

“South Carolina needs to produce more electricity to keep up with its explosive growth,” said CEPC CEO Rob Hochstetler. “This federal funding helps us meet these needs in a way that produces fewer carbon emissions while keeping energy costs as low as possible for our consumers.” »

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