Infrastructure Update

Vice President Details Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure 

October 26, 2022 whitehouse.gov

     Vice President Harris will provided a six-month progress report on the Biden-⁠Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, outlining a series of actions from across the Administration to upgrade our public schools with healthy, safe, sustainable facilities and transportation. Notably, the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act also includes $50 million to address air pollution in schools, as well as the CHIPS and Science Act, which authorizes new and expanded investments in STEM education and training for K-12 to community college, undergraduate, and graduate education. The CHIPS act also authorizes investments that will expand the diversity of research institutions. In addition, Vice President Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced nearly $1 billion in rebate awards from BIL funding to replace existing aging school bus fleets with clean buses. Read what local leaders are saying about the program here. 

EPA Clean School Bus Program, First Awardees Announced 

October 26, 2022 whitehouse.gov

     The Biden-Harris Administration announced new public and private sector commitments aligned with the President’s “Federal Buy Clean Initiative,” which “leverages the Federal Government’s power as the largest purchaser in the world to advance low-carbon construction materials across its procurement and funded infrastructure projects.” On Thursday, National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, and state leaders jointly discussed how to expand the purchase of lower-carbon materials made by American workers.

BIL invests $703 million to modernize port Infrastructure 

October 28, 2022 dot.gov

The DOT announced over $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that will improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and additional Congressional appropriations, will benefit coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports, helping improve supply chain reliability through increased port capacity and resilience, more efficient operations, reduced port emissions, and new workforce opportunities. Together, these investments will help get goods to shelves faster and lower costs for American families. 

DOE Notice of Intent for Innovations that Electrify, Optimize, and Decarbonize Building Operations 

October 27, 2022, doe.gov

The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced and NOI for an upcoming FOA called “Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) - 2022.” The program would fund the development, validation, and demonstration of novel building technologies and retrofit practices that have significant potential for equitable carbon savings through building electrification, energy efficiency, and demand flexibility.

How to boost climate resilience: Fill in infrastructure law funding gaps 

October 27, 2022 thehill.com

    This article highlights the intersections between BIL and IRA federal funding. The article explains how the IRA fills crucial gaps in federal resilience funding that IIJA did not cover, and how the IRA provides funding for climate change adaptation efforts that can further leverage IIJA’s reach in disadvantaged communities.

5 Things to Consider While Applying to the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP)

October 25, 2022, govtech.com

    This article outlines resources and approaches to consider regarding the SLCGP funding requirements. The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) provides funding to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, state, local or tribal governments. The program allocates $1 billion distributed over four years to support the implementation of cybersecurity best practices.