Picture it: there’s a power outage in your rural community. People that rely on assisted living technology are stuck in the dark. Families are forced to purchase backup generators for safety. And crisscrossing the street are extension cords, linking together houses to share precious electricity.
For folks living in Fish Lake Valley, power outages are not an unfamiliar problem. But instead of tangled extension cords across the street, residents of Fish Lake Valley have a new solution—a 37-megawatt solar power system, facilitated in part by the Rural Partners Network.
Announced by US Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small on August 29th during a visit to Pahrump, rural electric cooperative Valley Electric Association (VEA) was awarded $80.3 million in funding through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program. The PACE Program, together with the New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program, is funded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, the biggest investment in rural electrification since the New Deal.
This award to VEA would enable the cooperative to install a 37-megawatt solar power generation and storage system to serve Pahrump and the Fish Lake Valley region. The project would strengthen the energy grid, lower rates for the association’s members and keep critical services powered in the region, produce enough electricity for 3,500 homes.
VEA serves remote and rural communities in Nevada and has worked as a close partner with the Rural Partners Network to host community network meetings, convening Pahrump residents in discussions about community needs.
"Receiving the PACE award is a tremendous honor, but it truly reflects the collective efforts made possible through the Rural Partners Network (RPN),” said Mark Stallons, Valley Electric Association CEO.
“Working with this initiative has been invaluable, as it brings not only critical investment to rural communities but also deep partnerships and tailored support. RPN has been instrumental in helping us navigate complex challenges by aligning local needs with federal resources, and its collaborative approach ensures that projects have the right backing from start to finish. With RPN's vast network, it’s this unique value—bridging gaps, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable development—that makes the Rural Partners Network essential to our mission of improving the lives of the people and communities we serve."
“Rural communities throughout Nevada should be able to access affordable, reliable, and clean power,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad. “Through the Rural Partners Network, we’ve heard from residents in remote areas like Fish Lake Valley, where neighbors shared power during outages by using extension cords. With over $80 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re proud to support Valley Electric Association in meeting rural Nevada’s critical needs. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to addressing the needs of rural America by lowering energy costs, improving safety, and empowering rural Nevadans to shape their future."