USDA investing $141M in 'climate-resistant infrastructure' in NC

So, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending $141 million in the state to help fight climate change.

“The increasing severity that we’re seeing with wildfires, with drought, hurricanes, floods and the billions of dollars in costs that are associated with these natural disasters are having devastating effects on our rural communities,” USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh said.

The agency plans to provide grants to fund 43 "climate-resistant infrastructure" projects across the state.

"Investing in our infrastructure in a way that empowers our rural communities to tackle climate change while also growing the local economy will provide tangible benefits going forward," Bronaugh said.

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One of the projects is the Darlington solar site, a field of solar panels in Halifax County that came online in September and will power 354 homes each year.

"Even if 354 homes doesn’t sound like a lot, be one of the homes that didn’t have that resource and you’ll know how valuable that really is," Bronaugh said. "If you are a home or a business that does not have these resources, this is really, really important in terms of the investments and what this is going to mean on the ground, especially in our underserved communities across the state.."

Hep-Petra Construction built the $4.5 million solar farm, and the USDA grant will fund $2 million of that cost.

"Electrical infrastructure is a need, especially when it comes to generation," Hep-Petra President Greg Peterson said.

Much of Halifax County’s electricity is generated in other parts of the state and has to be delivered across long distances, Peterson said. When strong storms hit that delivery system, it can knock out the county’s power supply.

"It’s key anytime you can get local generation, especially renewable generation fed into the grid locally, that’s an advantage," he said.

Peterson said he’d consider future renewable energy projects in Halifax County, helping the area fight off climate change and keep the lights on.

“It’s definitely an underserved county,” he said.