WASHINGTON – Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative Inc. will receive a $3,871,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand electric utility service in Aroostook, Penobscot and Washington counties, according to U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

“This is terrific news for Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative and the people of northern and eastern Maine,” said Snowe and Collins in a joint statement announcing the loan Wednesday. “This funding will make vast improvements to utility service in many rural communities.”

Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative is a nonprofit, consumer-owned electric utility serving parts of Aroostook, Penobscot and Washington counties on Maine’s eastern border with Canada. Requested funding will be used to expand service to more than 400 new consumers, build 22 miles of new distribution lines, and make other system improvements.