Infrastructure Update

Press Releases:

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Celebrates Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

November 15, 2022 | whitehouse.gov

This week marks the anniversary of the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Since the implementation of the BIL one year ago, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced $185+ billion in funding and 6,900+ specific projects in over 4,000 communities across the nation and the U.S. territories. Over the last year, funding has been used to upgrade U.S. transportation and supply chains, improve water, conservation, and resilience, clean up legacy pollution, modernize the nation's grid and deploy clean energy, and expand high-speed internet In addition, the White House Infrastructure Implementation Team released new state-by-state fact sheets and a new map of projects that have begun in the United States. Key highlights from the past year include:

• 2,800 bridge repair and replacement projects have been launched across the country
• Awarded funds for over 5,000 new clean transit and school buses.
• Approved state plans for water funding, EV charging networks, and high-speed internet deployment.

Grid Resilience Innovation Partnership (GRIP) Programs are Now Open

November 18, 2022 | energy.gov

The Grid Deployment Office is administering a $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) Program to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change. The Program includes three funding mechanisms, and the first round of funding is $3.8 billion for FY 22 and 23:

• Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants ($2.5 billion): to fund comprehensive transmission and distribution technology solutions that will mitigate multiple hazards across a region or within a community, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, extreme heat, extreme cold, storms, and any other event that can cause a disruption to the power system.
  • Eligible applicants: electric grid operators, storage operators, generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers, and fuel suppliers.
• Smart Grid Grants ($3 billion): to increase the flexibility, efficiency, reliability, and resilience of the electric power system, with particular focus on increasing capacity of the transmission system, preventing faults that may lead to wildfires or other system disturbances, integrating renewable energy at the transmission and distribution levels, and facilitating the integration of increasing numbers of electric vehicles, buildings using electricity to heat and hot water, and other grid-edge devices.
  • Eligible applicants: domestic entities including institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, state and local government entities, and tribal nations.
• Grid Innovation Program ($5 billion): to provide financial assistance to deploy projects that use innovative approaches to transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure to enhance grid resilience and reliability.
  • Eligible applicants: one or multiple States, Tribes, local governments, and public utility commissions to collaborate with electric grid owners and operators.

FRA Publishes Northeast Corridor Project Inventory, Laying Out Priorities for Intercity Passenger Rail Development on the NEC

November 16, 2022 | transportation.gov

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a list of priority projects in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), a railroad line that spans from Boston to Washington, D.C., to improve and develop the commuter and intercity passenger rail network. The Project Inventory creates a project pipeline to assist Amtrak, States, and the public with long-term planning that will improve service, guiding up to $24 billion in funding from the FRA through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Partnership Program). According to the DOT, the NEC is the busiest intercity passenger rail corridor, which served 800,000 passengers daily pre-pandemic and spans an area that accounts for 20% of the national GDP. The press release explains that “by increasing the reliability, frequency, and quality of passenger rail services, these investments will improve the rider experience and provide customers with even more flexible transportation options.” The first NEC Project Inventory includes 68 projects divided into 15 Major Backlog Projects and 53 Capital Renewal, Stations, and Improvement Projects.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20.5 Million in USDA Grants to Protect Water, Increase Wood Processing Capacity

November 17, 2022 | usda.gov

The Biden-Harris Administration announced $20.5 million in grants to help states or federally recognized tribes establish temporary bridge programs to protect water resources during forest-related operations and to assist wood processing facility owners to establish, reopen, retrofit, or expand. The grants prioritize sawmills or other wood processing facilities that purchase and process byproducts from forest restoration activities in areas of severe fire risk and insect or disease infestation. The $20.5 million in FY2022 includes:

• $12.5 million targeted as financial assistance for owners of facilities that purchase and process byproducts from forest restoration projects including thinning, wildfire resilience activities, and habitat management.
• $8 million is available to states and tribes to support the establishment of temporary bridge rental, loan, or cost-share programs to protect water resources and reduce water quality degradation during forest-related operations.

DOE Announces $250 Million for Energy Efficiency Upgrades to Support Families And Businesses

November 15, 2022 | energy.gov

The Biden-Harris Administration through the DOE announced $250 million in formula funding through the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program. The grants, funded through the BIL, will establish revolving loan funds for states and territories to invest in energy audits and energy efficiency upgrades and improvements to existing commercial and residential buildings. The press release highlighted A recent DOE study which found that “energy efficiency loans for residential customers are generally low risk and historically have been repaid at a high rate, signaling that energy efficiency loans are safe and effective investments for lenders and customers alike.” For the recipients of this funding, energy efficiency loans will be a benefit because “states can establish or enhance robust revolving loan fund programs that provide energy efficiency loans to commercial and residential building owners and leverage capital from private, philanthropic, and other sources to amplify the impact of federal funding.”

News:

Mayor Bowser Releases the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force Report at the Launch of the Regional Street Smart Campaign

November 17, 2022 | mayor.dc.gov

Mayor Muriel Bowser released the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force report, which outlines key recommendations for how the District can use the more than $3 billion in funds coming to DC from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The report also provides updates to the public on the task force’s work, including 17 project proposals. The recommendations will guide the District in planning and implementing transformative, equitable, sustainable, and achievable projects.
Specific recommendations in the task force report include:

• Transforming the North Capitol Street corridor into an urban boulevard that is safer and more inviting for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Redesigning the DC295/I-295 corridor to reconnect communities isolated by the dividing line of the highway and adjacent railroads.
• Ensuring a clean, healthy, and resilient environment by having District buildings go “net zero” and expanding recreational options along the Anacostia River.
• Preparing the District for a more technologically innovative future by expanding broadband infrastructure in Wards 5, 7, and 8.
• Setting up District residents for better-paying jobs by creating new job training programs, like a Green Jobs Academy.
• Making sure procurement processes are as efficient as possible to maximize opportunities for District businesses to work on BIL projects.

Benton's Update on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Investing in Broadband Deployment

November 15, 2022 | benton.org

On Wednesday, The Benton Institute published a report on investments made in broadband over the last year from the IIJA. Currently, $65 billion is allocated to expand broadband in communities across the U.S., create more low-cost broadband service options, subsidize the cost of service for low-income households, and provide funding to address digital equity and inclusion needs. Specifically, the article provides an in-depth analysis of two major programs: the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program and the Enabling Middle Mile Infrastructure Grant Program.

The Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA): An Anniversary Report

November 15, 2022 | pillsburylaw.com

On Wednesday, Pillsbury Law released a report analyzing the overall implementation process of the IIJA over the past year. The report discusses programs under the IIJA, major accomplishments, future programs, and current challenges. In addition, the report includes data on IIJA funding on Key Notices of Funding Opportunity Released and the Total Funds Allocated to States by sector (as of July 6, 2022).