Senator Sherrod Brown...
Smart Grid Technology In Darke County  
March 16, 2012 

New resources will help build and improve the electric grid in Darke County. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown announced that Darke Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. will receive a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to install and enhance 69 miles of distribution line and make additional smart grid improvements, which improves connectivity between electric power generation plants and high voltage lines. 

“Ohioans benefit from energy efficient technology that reduces waste and helps create new business expansion opportunities,” Sen. Brown said. “These new resources will help Darke County make necessary updates to maintain a modern, efficient electricity grid that will keep prices affordable for customers.” 

Darke Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution system that serves three counties in west central Ohio. 

Sen. Brown, Chair of the Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation, has held more 170 roundtables throughout the state, and is the first Ohioan to serve on both the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee.