# USDA Finances Smarr Generation Facility

On October 14, 2026, USDA’s Rural Utilities Service announced a **$3.3 billion loan** to Oglethorpe Power Corporation to help finance construction of the Smarr Combined-Cycle electric generating facility in Monroe County, Georgia. The announcement signals substantial financing for utility-scale generation and grid capacity, but it does not identify a solicitation, procurement schedule, or bid contact; the loan is not itself a construction contract award.

- Construction, equipment, and services firms may find project-related business opportunities as the facility is built, but the announcement provides no active bidding details.
- Contractors should distinguish the USDA financing from procurements by Oglethorpe Power or its project team; no specific contracting route or timeline is stated.
- Oglethorpe Power is the loan recipient and project owner, making it the central entity for any project-related procurement activity identified in the signal.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
- USDA Rural Development

### Vendors
- Oglethorpe Power Corporation (Loan recipient and project owner)

### Key Quotes
> As we celebrate National Cooperative Month, this announcement highlights the vital role rural electric cooperatives play in powering our communities, supporting local economies, and strengthening American energy independence.
> — Glen Smith, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development

### Sources
- [USDA Makes Historic $3.3B Loan to Build Electric Generation Facility in Georgia | USDA](https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/10/14/usda-makes-historic-33b-loan-build-electric-generation-facility-georgia) - USDA