Economic Recovery, Water Resources, and Green Infrastructure Scroll down to view additional resources. In a major move to stimulate the economy, President Obama and the 111th Congress passed an unprecedented economic recovery plan, the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” (ARRA). Signed into law on February 17th, ARRA aims to ignite the economic engine of this country, preserve and create new jobs, and bring America’s infrastructure into the 21st century. In order to produce the results intended by Congress, strict deadlines for distributing and spending the federal stimulus money have been imposed in ARRA. With a focus on infrastructure, ARRA will provide an infusion of essential funding to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program of the federal Clean Water Act and federal Safe Drinking Water Act. In March 2008, a report produced by New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation and Environmental Facilities Corporation assessed the cost of addressing the state’s wastewater infrastructure needs at $36.2 billion over the next twenty years. In November 2008, NYS’ Department of Health (Center for Environmental Health) conducted a similar assessment for the state’s drinking water infrastructure and determined the bill to be $38.7 billion. While a significant permanent funding source is needed, ARRA will begin to help fill that funding gap through allotments under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking State Revolving Fund program (DWSRF). NYS will receive approximately $435 million for its CWSRF and $85 million for its DWSRF. To learn more about how the federal stimulus package will benefit water resources in NYS, see:  Fact Sheet #1: What What Does Federal Stimulus Funding Mean for Clean Water in NYS?
Under ARRA, twenty-percent (20%) of SRF funds must to be set aside for funding “green” infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements or other environmentally innovative activities. Under New York’s CWSRF program, this equals $86.5 million for green projects. For the purpose of ARRA funding under the SRF, green infrastructure includes: (1) Water efficiency, reuse or conservation - projects that deliver equal or better services with less water; (2) Energy efficiency - projects that reduce energy consumption or produce clean energy; (3) Green wet weather infrastructure - projects that maintain, restore, or mimic natural systems to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, or recycle stormwater To find out more about what green wet weather infrastructure means, see: Fact Sheet #2: What Types of Green Wet Weather Infrastructure Projects Qualify for Federal Stimulus Funding?(4) Environmental innovation - projects that manage water resources to prevent or remove pollution in an economically sustainable way. To find out more about what environmental innovation means, see: Fact Sheet #3: What Does Environmental Innovation Mean for Purposes of Federal Stimulus Funding?Green Infrastructure Funding Opportunity for the Hudson River Watershed New York State’s Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), the state entity responsible for administering the SRF program, has created the “Green Infrastructure Grant Program” (GIGP) to provide approximately $35 million toward green infrastructure projects under the CWSRF. Information about the GIGP program, application procedures, criteria selection, and other program requirements will be available on the EFC’s website at www.nysefc.org/GreenGrants on or after Eligible applicants do not need to be listed on the current Intended Use Plan and may include any city, town, village, county, public benefit corporation, public authority, not-for-profit corporation, school district, among others, who are organized and existing under the laws of New York State. Applications are due May 29, 2009. To learn about the Green Infrastructure Grant Program opportunity, eligible applicants and projects, and more, see: Fact Sheet #4: What is the NY’s Green Innovation Grant Program?The GIGP presents an opportunity for Hudson Valley communities to implement programs that can protect our water resources, by using natural systems and by implementing practices to help or replace gray infrastructure to reduce sewer overflows, storm water runoff and the urban heat-island effect, as well as increase the beauty and livability of neighborhoods and cities. The Hudson River Watershed Alliance is working with our many partners to promote a greater understanding of how green infrastructure can benefit the water resources of the Hudson River Watershed. Please contact Katy Dunlap, HRWA Coordinator (katy@hudsonwatershed.org) to learn more. Compendium of Green Infrastructure Fact SheetsAdditional Resources and Guidance |
