President Joe Biden is set to visit Westby in southwest Wisconsin to fulfill his commitment to enhancing rural electrification and other infrastructure upgrades. The President will announce $7.3 billion in investments for 16 cooperatives providing electricity to rural areas in 23 states. The aim is to decrease the cost of internet access in remote regions that struggle to connect. This initiative is funded by the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, a legislation passed in August 2022 and allocated along party lines in Congress. The law allocates approximately $13 billion to rural electrification across various programs, expected to generate 4,500 permanent jobs and 16,000 construction jobs, as reported by the White House. Considered the most substantial investment in rural electrification since the New Deal in the 1930s, the administration views this as a significant step towards infrastructure development.
Wisconsin holds strategic importance for Democrats in the upcoming presidential election between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden’s victory in Wisconsin in 2020 by a margin of roughly 20,000 votes marked a crucial win, overturning the state’s support for Trump in 2016. This visit to Wisconsin resonates with Biden’s previous commitments made early in his presidency, including pledges to provide improved internet access to rural regions. Recognizing the essential nature of internet connectivity, Biden emphasized during a previous visit in June 2021 that it has become a necessity similar to water and electricity. Natalie Quillian, White House deputy chief of staff, highlighted the President’s dedication to fulfilling his promises, which will be evident during this return trip to Wisconsin.
