Federal funding improving central U.P. power options

What's happening: The Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association is making a $10.9 million dollar infrastructure improvement that will help provide power to more than 700 new customers — or roughly a seven percent increase in the number of total customers served — in the power company’s service area. While sizable, the project will involve numerous smaller projects to update lines to provide power in more efficient ways, says Mike Furmanski, Alger Delta general manager.

How it's funded: The funding is part of a recent push from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with over $2.7 billion being loaned to 64 electric cooperatives across the country. Michigan received $273,696,000 in loans; Alger Delta was the only cooperative in the Upper Peninsula to receive the loans this year. The loans are often paid back over time with cycles being every four years.
 
What they're saying: “This represents a significant investment in Michigan’s rural energy infrastructure,” says USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins.  “We are fundamentally transforming access to electricity in a large stretch of our state.”

What's next: The cooperative will start working on upgrades “one span at a time,” according to Furmanski, with a focus on providing service for new customers. There has been a growth in new customers the last few years, he says. “There’s a number of very small projects that will help us tie in and improve coverage. We’ll be upgrading and have quite a bit for new services; 735 new members over the next four years is reasonable,” Furmanski says.