USDA Grants Record $3.3 Billion Loan for Georgia Power Plant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a record $3.3 billion loan to Oglethorpe Power Corporation for a new power plant in Monroe County, Georgia.
The United States Department of Agriculture provided a record-breaking $3.3 billion loan to the Oglethorpe Power Corporation to fund a power plant in Monroe County, Georgia. The facility is designed to serve 38 rural utility cooperatives to meet growing electricity demand across their communities.
Glen Smith, the USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, stated that the facility could support the expansion of data centers in Georgia. While the Trump administration supports rapid data center growth, the project faces local opposition regarding utility costs and water usage. Oglethorpe Power Corporation clarified that the facility is not dedicated to serving a data center.
Smith indicated that the agency has already received $8.6 billion in requests one month into the fiscal year. He plans to request additional funding from congressional appropriators to support similar infrastructure projects, noting that rural areas can benefit from data centers provided the necessary infrastructure is in place.
