Infrastructure Update

Press Releases      

FEMA Seeks Public Input on Simplifying Preparedness Grants 

September 8, 2023| Source: DHS-FEMA

Today, FEMA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on how to enhance the management and administration of its preparedness grant programs. FEMA is seeking suggestions on how to: 1) Improve management and administration of grant programs by simplifying application processes and enhancing customer service, and 2) Ensure greater accessibility and equity for under resourced populations. This national engagement will help the agency gain better understanding of how to continue to assist the nation and first responders in building, sustaining and improving our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate terrorism and other high-consequence disasters and emergencies.  

DOI Launches New Large-Scale Water Recycling Program with $180 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

September 7, 2023 | Source: DOI 

On Thursday, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the availability of $180 million in initial funding for a new large-scale water recycling program aimed at creating new water supplies that are less vulnerable to drought and climate change. The new program will incentivize projects at a larger scale, with no cap on project size, and will play an important role in helping communities develop local, drought-resistant water supplies by turning unusable water sources into clean, reliable ones. The funding opportunity—part of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program--is aimed at water management agencies considering or planning larger water reuse projects as part of strategies to address projected water supply shortages. The $180 million investment is part of a total of $450 million for this new program.  

EPA Launches New $19 Million Grant Program to Improve Climate Resilience of Nation’s Drinking Water Infrastructure 

September 7, 2023 | Source: EPA 

On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $19 million in new grant funding that will work to improve the climate resilience of the nation’s water infrastructure. EPA’s Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program will support drinking water systems in underserved, small and disadvantaged communities that are working to prepare for and reduce vulnerability to impacts from climate change ranging from extreme flooding to extreme drought. Through this grant, EPA is seeking applications for projects that will benefit underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities. 

DOE Announces $150 Million to Strengthen Domestic Critical Material Supply Chains 

September 6, 2023 | Source: DOE 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $150 million to advance cost effective and environmentally responsible processes to produce and refine critical minerals and materials here in the United States. The funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help meet the growing demand for critical minerals and materials while reducing our dependence on offshore supplies. Critical minerals and materials are key to manufacturing clean energy technologies—such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells—that will help America reach the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious climate goals. This funding opportunity will create good-paying jobs and support communities across the country that historically have depended on mining and energy production, advancing the Administration’s efforts to maximize the benefits of the clean energy transition in every community. 

DOE Invests More Than $13 Million to Enhance Continued Deployment of Hydropower

September 6, 2023 | Source: DOE 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $13 million for seven research and development projects focused on advancing hydropower as a critical source of clean energy. The funding, provided by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will advance technologies to generate power at dams that currently do not and accelerate the expansion of pumped storage hydropower (PSH). The funding supports organizations to accelerate hydropower research and development for non-powered dam and PSH technologies to make them more affordable, environmentally responsible, and deployable. The seven selected projects focus on: 1) Developing technologies to retrofit non-powered dams with environmentally sustainable power-generating infrastructure, 2) Advancing and developing technologies that could accelerate the deployment of PSH, and 3) Hydropower research and development by emerging organizations not extensively engaged with DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office.