Summary
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the “CARES Act,” which provided approximately $2 trillion in federal spending aimed to ease the burdens associated with COVID-19. NRECA provided a top-line summary after the bill became law. Key programs included in the “CARES Act” that could help co-ops and their member-consumers during this crisis:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – $900 million
- Paycheck Protection Program – $349 billion
- Broadband/Telecom Provisions – $325 million
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) – $45 billion
Electric Co-ops and Federal, State and Local CARES Act Funding