Transcript Green Project Reserve in PA

Green Project Reserve (GPR)
of the
“American Recovery
and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
of 2009”
What does it mean for PA?
What is the purpose of ARRA?
• Create jobs and provide economic recovery;
• Assist those impacted by the recession;
• Spur technology advances;
• Invest in aging infrastructure; and
• Stabilize state and local budgets.
What is PA receiving for water and
water quality projects?
The Commonwealth's allocation of funding is:
• $65 million for the Drinking Water State Water
Revolving Fund; and
• $155 million for the Clean Water State Revolving
Fund.
A total of $220 million for water enhancements!!!
How will the funding be provided?
• Funding will be a mix of grants and loans
and will be handled through PENNVEST’s
existing DWSRF and CWSRF program.
• Projects will be reviewed and awarded at
the April and July PENNVEST Board
Meeting.
– Focus on “Green Infrastructure Projects in
July.
Timing is CRITICAL
• As defined by ARRA “under contract or
under construction by February 17,2010”
• PA’s approach is to have projects under
contract or under construction by October
1, 2009.
What is the Green Project Reserve
(GPR)?
• GPR is a subset of ARRA and it is stated that
“at least 20 % of the funds shall be used for
projects that address green infrastructure, water
or water efficiency improvements or other
environmentally innovative activities”
• For PA that is approximately $44 million and it is
anticipated that the funding will be provided via
grants.
$220 million * 20% = $44 million
What kind of projects are eligible?
• Water Efficiency
• Energy Efficiency
• Green Infrastructure
• Environmentally Innovative
Water Efficiency
CWSRF
• The use of improved technologies
and practices to deliver equal or
better services with less water.
• Examples of projects include, but
are not limited to:
DWSRF
• The use of improved technologies
and practices to deliver equal or
better services with less water.
• Examples of projects include, but
are not limited to:
– Installation of water meters.
– Retrofit or replacement of water
using fixtures, fittings, equipment
or appliances.
– Efficient landscape or irrigation
equipment.
– Systems to recycle gray water.
– Reclamation, recycling, and reuse
of existing rainwater, condensate,
degraded water, stormwater,
and/or wastewater streams.
– Collection system leak detection
equipment.
– Installation of water meters or
automated meter reading
systems.
– Retrofit or replacement of water
using fixtures, fittings, equipment
or appliances (can include rebate
programs).
– Distribution system leak detection
equipment.
– Replacement or rehabilitation of
distribution lines. (Note, eligibility
will require documentation of
exceptional technologies and
practices to qualify.)
Energy Efficiency
CWSRF
• The use of improved technologies and
practices to reduce the energy
consumption of water quality projects,
including projects to reduce energy
consumption or produce clean energy
used by a treatment works defined in
Section 212.
• Examples of projects include, but are
not limited to:
–
–
–
Energy efficient retrofits and upgrades
to pumps and treatment processes.
Leak detection equipment for treatment
works.
Production of clean power for use onsite (wind, solar, hydroelectric,
geothermal, biogas powered combined
heat and power).
DWSRF
• Includes capital projects that reduce
the energy consumption of eligible
drinking water infrastructure projects.
• Examples of projects include, but are
not limited to:
–
–
–
–
Energy efficient retrofits and upgrades
to pumps and treatment processes.
(Note, eligibility will require
documentation of exceptional
technologies and practices to qualify.)
Leak detection equipment.
Production of clean power for use onsite (wind, solar, hydroelectric,
geothermal, biogas powered combined
heat and power).
Replacement or rehabilitation of
distribution lines (Note, eligibility will
require documentation of exceptional
technologies and practices to qualify.)
Green Infrastructure
CWSRF
• Includes a wide array of practices at
multiple scales that manage and treat
stormwater and that maintain and
restore natural hydrology by infiltrating,
evapotranspiring and capturing and
using stormwater.
• On a regional scale, green
infrastructure is the preservation and
restoration of natural landscape
features, such as forests, floodplains
and wetlands, coupled with policies
such as infill and redevelopment that
reduce overall imperviousness in a
watershed.
• On the local scale green infrastructure
consists of site- and neighborhoodspecific practices, such as
bioretention, trees, green roofs, porous
pavements and cisterns.
DWSRF
• Includes a wide array of practices that
manage wet weather to maintain and
restore natural hydrology by infiltrating,
evapotranspiring and capturing and
using stormwater.
• In the context of the DWSRF, green
infrastructure consists of site-specific
practices, such as green roofs and
porous pavement at drinking water
utility facilities. In addition to managing
rainfall, these green infrastructure
technologies can simultaneously
provide other benefits such as
reducing energy demands.
Environmentally Innovative
CWSRF
• Projects demonstrate new and/or
innovative approaches to
managing water resources in a
more sustainable way, including
projects that achieve pollution
prevention or pollutant removal
with reduced costs and projects
that foster adaptation of water
protection programs and practices
that address climate change.
DWSRF
• Projects would include those that
are: (1) consistent with the
underlying project eligibilities of
the DWSRF program; and (2)
consistent with the timelines and
objectives of the ARRA; and (3)
that demonstrate new and/or
innovative approaches to
delivering service and/or
managing water resources in a
more sustainable way, including
projects that achieve public health
protection and environmental
protection objectives at the least
life-cycle costs.
Who can apply for GPR funding?
CWSRF Projects
DWSRF Projects
•
•
Eligible applicants must meet one of the
following or obtain a sponsor that meets one
of the criteria:
–
–
–
–
–
•
Watershed organizations recognized by DEP
who promote local watershed conservation
efforts (organization must be incorporated);
Counties and Municipalities (boroughs,
townships, etc);
County Conservation Districts;
Council of Governments; or
Other authorized organizations involved in
research, restoration, rehabilitation, planning,
acquisition, development, education or other
activities which further the protection,
enhancement, conservation, preservation or
enjoyment of the Commonwealth’s
environmental, conservation, recreation or
similar resources.
Applicants must own or operate the
facility to be constructed. Operations
may be contracted to others.
Eligible applicants must be:
–
•
A publicly or privately-owned Public Water
Systems.
Applicants must own or operate the
facility to be constructed. Operations
may be contracted to others.
How do you apply?
• See www.recovery.pa.gov with link to
PennVest webpage (starting April 6)
• Or go directly to PennVest webpage at
www.pennvest.state.pa.us
Special requirements for ARRA
funding?
• Solicit Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
firms for work.
• Comply with environmental review and
assessment requirements
• Incorporate the Davis-Bacon act (wage
rates).
• Use products produced in the United
States.
How will GPR projects be
awarded?
• Projects will be ranked by DEP based on
information included in the technical component
of the application.
• Final rankings and recommendations will be
sent to PENNVEST where additional factors will
be considered:
– Job creation
– Local level of unemployment
– Financial resources of the applicant
• PENNVEST Board will make the final selection
at the July Board meeting.
What is the timeline for the GPR?
• Applications will be accepted April 6, 2009 – May 18,
2009.
• April 14 – Public Meeting
• April 20 -- Webinar
• Awards will be announced at the July PENNVEST Board
Meeting.
• Applications will be accepted that will be under contract
or under construction by October 1, 2009.
What can you do?
• Begin packaging projects for consideration;
• Contact your organization members to explain
objectives and timing for GPR;
• Provide assistance to members;
• Contact DEP and PENNVEST with concerns
and questions.
Where to go for more information?
Detailed information will be available at:
http://www.recovery.pa.gov and will
include a link to the electronic application.
Questions
• We will take questions until the end of the
meeting (12pm).
– If we have not gotten to your question(s) please fill
out a note card, that will be available as you leave,
and we will contact you with a response.
• A Frequently Asked Question Document is being
developed. This will be posted on the
www.recovery.pa.gov website.
• Any other questions (after today’s meeting) can
be directed to Mr. Lee Murphy at 717-772-4055,
[email protected] or Ms. Ann Smith at
717-787-4726, [email protected].