BISMARCK – Great River Energy and Basin Electric Cooperative based in North Dakota have received a more than $1.5 billion investment awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program, according to USDA Rural Development North Dakota information.

The award was announced on Friday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Great River Energy will use its $794 million investment to procure 1,275 megawatts of renewable energy in rural areas across Minnesota and North Dakota. Projects will include large-scale wind energy, distributed renewable energy and other innovative investments. The investment is expected to create over 1,600 jobs, reduce costs for members by approximately $40 million each year, and climate pollution by over 5.49 million tons each year.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative will use a $775 million investment to procure both additional renewable energy generation and enhance existing cooperative-owned renewable assets, which are expected to total over 1,400 megawatts to serve its cooperative members in nine states. These projects will create short and long-term jobs, reduce carbon pollution, and provide estimated cost benefits of over $400 million to members over the life of the New ERA program.