Cleaver “20 percent for Green” provision becomes law in Interior Appropriations bill
Today, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II won final approval of a measure to designate 20 percent of the $3.487 billion State Revolving Funds for “green” innovations. The provision became law as part of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations conference report (H.R. 2996) for fiscal year 2010 which passed both chambers this afternoon and will be signed by the President tomorrow. The bill increases funding by $1.9 billion over 2009 levels to allow states to address the nation’s aging wastewater infrastructure in order to sustain and improve water quality. The “20 percent for Green” provision is designed to help fund environmentally conscious solutions for projects like Kansas City’s combined sewer reconstruction. Under the formula instructed by the provision, nearly $700 million dollars nationwide will be directed to “environmentally innovative activities”.
“I am proud the Congress added this provision to the already significant increases in water infrastructure funding in this bill. This action insures that no less than 20 percent of the billions in grant funds made available by this bill for sewer overflow control will be spent on projects that incorporate green approaches and practices. I believe this strikes a reasonable balance between green infrastructure and traditional control systems, as both have a role in creating a sustainable and workable solution to sewer overflows,” said Congressman Cleaver.
In order to comply with the Clean Water Act of 1972, the City of Kansas City has developed a plan that will cost $2.4 billion over 25-30 years. The Combined Sewer Overflow plan represents the largest capital project the city has ever undertaken. A year ago, Congressman Cleaver urged the Mayor and City Council to adopt the “greenest plan possible.”
“When I encouraged the City to include more ‘green’ solutions in its Combined Sewer Overflow Plan, I promised the City that the path to ‘green’ would yield more opportunities for federal funding. This is the first step in keeping that promise,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I said I would fight tooth-and-nail for money if the City advanced the vision of a healthier, more sustainable and greener future. This provision makes Kansas City’s commitment to green pay off with a better chance at millions of federal dollars. I would like to thank the Kansas City Council, and particularly the hard work of Councilwoman Jan Marcason, for leading the City towards a greener future.”
The bill’s State Revolving Funds allow Missouri to maintain revolving loan funds to provide independent and permanent sources of low-cost financing to municipalities for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects, such as sewer repair and reconstruction.
Studies indicate that for every $1 billion invested in infrastructure projects, anywhere from 35,000 to nearly 50,000 jobs are created. Beyond job creation, these investments in water and sewer infrastructure will help our cities meet public health and safety needs and help attract new businesses and residents.
This is the second major water funding bill the “20 percent for Green” provision has been incorporated into, but the first to become law. A second similar provision passed the House earlier in the year as part of the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1262) and is still pending in the Senate.