“USDA Appropriations”
On April 23, 2015, the USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the government spending of six rural electric infrastructure projects. Over half of which taking place in North and South Carolina, these projects focus on not only power lines, and fuel resources, but solar. This funding would allow for the expansion of the national solar grid, and promote an increase in electricity for rural residents. Funds are being appropriated to Chocowinity Solar, Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Broad River Electric Cooperative, and Washington Electric Cooperative for the various projects. The USDA has been committed to rural electric improvements since the birth of the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935. Although this comes at the same time as Obama’s release of the first ever Quadrennial Energy Review, a review of the energy plans for the United States.
I see this as a mere political move for the Democratic Party. Why else would the USDA release this information at the same time as Obama’s “FIRST EVER” QER? Although, this isn’t the only coincidence in this picture. With Earth Day in sight, the media’s talking points of the week surely will encompass Earth Day festivities, and conveniently they have good news from Washington about such things. I, along with many others in the rural regions appreciate the emphasis and funding the government has provided to the communities. With that said, I don’t believe the “good news” from Washington spurred from the priorities they seem to think they are portraying, but more for their own image to the country. Sort of like a kid trying to get attention “Hey, look what I can do! Wanna be my friend?”