WASHINGTON, DC, February 23, 2009 (ENS) – The National Governors Association 2009 Winter Meeting wrapped up today with a session on best practices from around the world for financing infrastructure repairs and upgrades. The governors charted what they called “an action-based roadmap” for the chairman’s initiative Strengthening Our Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future.

Each year, the chair alternates between a Democrat and a Republican, and each year, the chairman chooses an initiative to focus the governors’ efforts.

This year the NGA Chair is Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, who is highlighting the role states can play in managing existing infrastructure and developing new infrastructure in ways that enhance economic and environmental prosperity.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell opens a infrastructure discussion at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting. Feburary 22, 2009 (Photo courtesy NGA)

“A growing pattern of underinvestment and uncoordinated planning has led to a range of concerns that are felt across the country, including widespread congestion, unsafe bridges, inadequate water supply and an electricity grid that is increasingly pressed beyond its ability,” said Governor Rendell today. “To ensure our nation’s ability to compete in an evolving global economy and respond to crucial energy and environmental challenges, we must not only maintain our infrastructure system but also enhance and improve it.”

In January, the American Society of Civil Engineers reported that $2.2 trillion in repairs and upgrades is needed over the next five years just to bring the nation’s infrastructure up to “adequate.” The ASCE’s 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure assigned an overall grade of D to the nation as well as individual grades in 15 infrastructure categories, none higher than C+.

“From roads, rails and bridges to the electrical grid, water treatment plants, broadband networks, schools and hospitals, infrastructure makes modern life as we know it possible,” said NGA Vice Chair Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. “Governors recognize that it is critical to our economic growth, global competitiveness and quality of life that we work collectively to find ways of improving and modernizing our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.”

Governor Rendell’s focus on infrastructure took shape in January 2008 when he formed a new coalition called “Building America’s Future,” to rally support for a renewed federal commitment to funding America’s infrastructure needs with state partners.

Coalition co-founders California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged to work with then presidential candidates and the platform committees of the national political parties “to ensure that the next president understands the enormity of the infrastructure crisis and is committed to increasing federal funding.”

They were successful in that President Barack Obama has made infrastructure funding a pillar of his newly enacted stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Less than a week after it became law, the package is already generating infrastructure jobs.

New York Governor David Paterson today announced the first transportation projects eligible for federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be put to bid as early as March 5, creating thousands of jobs in Upstate New York, an area where unemployment is a constant problem.

These projects include the replacement and repair of bridges in Steuben, Onondaga, Oneida and Herkimer counties, and will be fully funded through the federal legislation.

“Clearly, there is a serious need in New York for federal infrastructure funding, and the projects announced today represent just a small number of the opportunities that will be funded with economic recovery dollars,” said Governor Paterson. “This will be an open process with significant local input, and will create jobs across the state at a time when New York is facing widespread unemployment.”

During their closing session today, the assembled governors heard Denmark’s Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard’s insights into the Danish experience with integrating rail into its transportation system.

She provided advice on balancing urban and rural concerns, ways to utilize new pricing and financing mechanisms and strategies to integrate new technologies such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the NGA meeting (Photo courtesy NGA)

On Saturday, Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Paterson co-chaired a bi-partisan meeting with 10 other governors and President Barack Obama’s top energy and environment cabinet officials to discuss a state-federal partnership on clean energy and climate change issues.

“States have been leading the way on clean energy and climate change, and we are thrilled to now have a willing partner in the White House to promote these policies on a national stage,” Governor Schwarzenegger said after the meeting, which was held in response to a January 29 letter of request from the governors for a meeting with the Obama team.

“California has been focusing on green jobs, alternative fuels, renewable energy, and reducing the urgent threat of global warming while at the same time benefiting our economy, and we hope that our efforts will now act as a model for change at the federal level,” he said.

During the meeting, governors discussed a variety of initiatives their states are undertaking to accelerate renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They stressed the importance of coordinating their actions with the Obama administration to leverage each others’ efforts.

Several governors noted the unique complexity of clean energy and climate challenge issues will require action at the local, state and federal level.

Governor Jim Douglas, vice chair of the NGA (Photo courtesy NGA)

Governors Charlie Crist of Florida, Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Jim Douglas of Vermont, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Chris Gregoire of Washington, Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Bill Ritter of Colorado, and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas attended the meeting.

They conferred with Carol Browner, assistant to the President for energy and climate change; Ken Salazar, secretary of the interior; Dr. Steven Chu, secretary of energy; and Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Enironmental Protection Agency.

“Today’s meeting was the first step in creating a close and lasting partnership with President Obama and his administration on climate change, said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I look forward to working hand-in-hand with our federal partners to realize the ambitious clean energy and climate change goals I know we share, and that I know will provide a boost to our nation’s economy.”

On Sunday night, the President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted their first state dinner – a reception for the nation’s governors in the State Dining Room.

As their meeting closed today, the National Governors Association issued a bi-partisan statement expressing their belief that the country will emerge stronger than ever from the current economic downturn.

“We are unified in our unwavering belief that the United States’ economy is resilient and the true strength of our nation remains the ingenuity, perseverance and hard work of the American people,” the governors said.

“We have been through tough economic times in the past and have always emerged a stronger nation with a more vibrant economy. Our country’s ability to persevere is not in question – we know better days lie ahead. Working together we can speed recovery, provide new opportunities and ensure a prosperous future.”

Click here [www.nga.org] to read a new report on infrastructure from the NGA’s Best Practices Office, “An Infrastructure Vision for the 21st Century” by Darren Springer and Greg Dierkers.

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, November 6, 2008 (ENS) – Pennsylvania voters have approved a $400 million bond issue that will allow the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to award grants and loans for water treatment systems and pipelines.

With 99.6 percent of precincts reporting, the referendum received more than 2.8 million “yes” votes and 1.7 million “no” votes.

Critics of the referendum argued that Pennsylvanians already owe $110 billion in state debt, not including the additional $3 billion passed in the 2008-09 state budget. They are wary of taking on new debt in the current economic climate.

The money will be available for municipally owned drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems in all parts of the state, in communities large and small, urban and rural.

The funding will be available to the 183 publicly owned water systems in Pennsylvania that are facing federal mandates to reduce nutrient pollution in the Susquehanna and Potomac river basins and downstream in the Chesapeake Bay.

“Pennsylvanians from different parts of the state and from all party affiliations overwhelmingly chose to create new jobs and make an important down payment on our economic future and the quality of life in our communities,” said Governor Edward Rendell.

“Our water and sewer systems – as well as other critical components of our infrastructure – are in need of substantial investments to ensure quality, dependable services that will position our economy to grow,” the governor said.

The Sustainable Infrastructure Task Force convened by the governor early this year released a report last week that listed at least $36.5 billion in capital repairs and upgrades that are needed statewide over the next 20 years to maintain service.

The task force estimates that Pennsylvania will need to spend another $77.1 billion for operation, maintenance and debt service.

“This is part of a larger national problem,” Governor Rendell said. “Across the country, we’re confronted with a staggering total national infrastructure shortfall of $1.6 trillion. That unmet need affects the quality of not only roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, it also applies to our airports and rail freight lines – important services that businesses rely on to ship their goods and supplies. If we don’t act quickly, that deficit will continue to grow and we will see our infrastructure fall further into disrepair.

“And, with our nation’s economy slowing, now’s the time to make these investments,” he said. “These projects will support tens of millions of jobs that are necessary to build these systems and maintain them.”

The $400 million bond issue approved Tuesday is expected to support 12,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 18, 2008 (ENS) – Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed two pieces of legislation last week that will help spur the development of homegrown biofuels in Pennsylvania and establish new requirements that every gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel contain a percentage of ethanol and biodiesel.

“Pennsylvanians are struggling with higher fuels costs,” said Governor Rendell. “Record-high fuel prices are straining family budgets and pinching the bottom lines of our businesses. We need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and keep our energy dollars in Pennsylvania, to invest in our economy and create jobs.”

The biofuel percentages established under the new law will go into effect once in-state production reaches certain levels.

The requirements include what the governor believes to be the nation’s first state-specific mandate for cellulosic ethanol, which is made from non-food plant materials.

“Pennsylvania can be to cellulosic ethanol what corn-based ethanol was to Iowa and the Midwest,” said Rendell. “Pennsylvania has an abundant supply of cellulosic ethanol feedstocks, including switchgrass, woodchips, municipal waste and agricultural waste. This alternative fuel law ensures that Pennsylvania farmers and businesses will fully realize the benefits of these resources.”

Tractors that run on biodiesel at the
Pennsylvania Farm Show, January
2008. (Photo credit unknown)

Environmentalists were pleased with the new measures. “We must begin to move away from our ‘addiction to oil,’ as President George W. Bush characterized our energy problem,” said Jan Jarrett, vice president of PennFuture. “With oil prices over $140 a barrel and diesel over $4.60 a gallon, these bills will start us on the road to recovery.”

“These policies will bring some relief to Pennsylvania’s hard-pressed families and businesses, bringing heating oil and gasoline and diesel costs down,” said Jarrett. “And it will also help Pennsylvania farmers who grow soybeans and other crops for biodiesel production, offering them a chance to compete both in and out of state.”

The use of renewable fuels results in a reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to the petroleum fuel that is displaced.

Biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 50 percent, while cellulosic ethanol could reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 86 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Biodiesel reduces many types of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, air toxics, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, below levels emitted by petroleum diesel.

Pennsylvania’s biodiesel manufacturers will benefit from new investments, which will help spur production, the governor said.

Pennsylvania will invest $5.3 million in its in-state biodiesel producers annually through June 30, 2011. These companies will be able to take advantage of a 75 cents per gallon subsidy that will be capped at $1.9 million per year per producer.

Under the new measure, as much as one billion gallons of biofuels will be added to the state’s fuel supply. All diesel fuel sold at retail must contain:

* 2 percent biodiesel, once in-state production reaches 40 million gallons

* 5 percent biodiesel, once in-state production reaches 100 million gallons

* 10 percent biodiesel, once in-state production reaches 200 million gallons

* 20 percent biodiesel, once in-state production reaches 400 million gallons

All gasoline sold at retail must contain 10 percent ethanol, once in-state cellulosic ethanol production reaches 350 million gallons.

Pennsylvania already has an in-state biodiesel production capacity of about 60 million gallons per year, and the state’s first large-scale ethanol plant – a 100 million gallon per year operation – is under construction in Clearfield County.

The developers of the Clearfield County plant – BioEnergy International and Lukoil Americas – have also committed to developing a pilot scale cellulosic ethanol plant. Another cellulosic demonstration facility is planned for Madison, Westmoreland County.

These projects, and similar ones expected to follow, will inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Pennsylvania’s economy in the coming years and create thousands of jobs.

“Each year, America incurs nearly $400 billion in additional debt to finance our appetite for oil,” said the governor. “Here in Pennsylvania, we spend approximately $30 billion to purchase liquid fuels from beyond our border. It’s time we keep more of that money here at home and invest in our biofuel manufacturers, communities and transportation industry.”

In a recent study commissioned by PennFuture, the global expert services company LECG LLC examined the benefits of offsetting 900 million gallons of petroleum-based transportation fuel with renewable and coal-derived fuels by 2017, as originally called for in the governor’s plan.

The study concluded that the plan would add nearly $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy, create as many as 25,775 new jobs in all sectors of the Pennsylvania economy and put an additional $6.6 billion into the pockets of Pennsylvanians over the next decade.

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PHILADELPHIA, Pennesylvania, July 15, 2008 (ENS) – Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell Monday took the reins of the National Governors Association and announced that the organization’s annual Chair’s Initiative, chosen each year by the incoming leader, will focus on strengthening infrastructure investment.

“It is an honor to serve as NGA’s chair,” Governor Rendell said during the association’s Centennial meeting. “Out-going chair, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, deserves a tremendous amount of credit for moving America closer to clean energy. Just last week I signed legislation to invest more than $650 million in Pennsylvania’s alternative energy sector. Tim’s leadership has inspired every governor in the nation and once again states are taking the lead on this critical issue.”

Governor Ed Rendell receives the NGA
gavel from Governor Tim Pawlenty.
(Photo courtesy NGA)

“Over the past year, the nation’s attention has becoming increasingly focused on the growing energy challenges that face us,” said Governor Pawlenty. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished as part of the Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiative, but our work is just beginning. It will take continued effort and renewed dedication to ensure that our country has an energy future that is safe, secure and clean.”

At the opening plenary session, the NGA announced a new state-industry partnership between the Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiative and General Motors Corporation to help states increase availability of E-85 fueling stations. E-85 is an alternative fuel consisting of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Under the partnership, states will develop a strategy for installing E-85 pumps in key locations. GM will provide technical assistance to states in developing these strategies and will leverage their relationships with the automobile and ethanol industries to help states implement their strategies.

“There is no silver bullet available to solve this nation’s energy challenges,” said Rendell. “This will be an all-hands-on-deck, all-technologies-available effort.”

“Another significant challenge facing our nation is the rebuilding of its infrastructure,” said Rendell, who made a pledge in January with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to form a non-partisan national coalition that will lobby for federal investment in America’s decaying infrastructure.

“America’s infrastructure urgently needs attention,” said Rendell. “From outmoded ports to crumbling bridges to underinvestment in public transit, we must begin a new era of investment in the systems that support our prosperity and our quality of life.”

“If America is to continue competing in the global economic marketplace, we need an efficient and sound infrastructure. For the past two decades, state and local governments have been picking up more of the tab for infrastructure repair, but we can’t keep it up,” said Rendell.

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates national infrastructure needs of more than $1.6 trillion dollars over the next five years.

“Infrastructure funding – making sure our roads, bridges, schools, airports, trains, ports, and water systems are safe – is an issue about which I am very passionate,” said Governor Rendell. “It started when I was mayor of Philadelphia and continues today because I see that our nation’s aging infrastructure is hurting our economic stability and hampering future growth.”

“Businesses and communities can’t survive if they can’t get their products to market, educate their students and access safe water supplies,” he said.

“State and local governments now fund 75 percent of all infrastructure work. We will need the federal government to step up significantly if we are to fully meet this challenge. I will continue to work with my fellow governors to give these issues the attention they deserve,” said Rendell.

As NGA chairman, Governor Rendell will work with other states to design and implement strategies for smarter, more cost-effective infrastructure investment at the state level.

In addition, states will be challenged in the coming years to align their infrastructure investments with the new realities of climate change, and Governor Rendell will work with states to design strategies to accomplish this.

The National Governors Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary during 2008.

U.S. Route 6 through Iowa was broken up
by the June floods. (Photo by Dave
Darby, Iowa US Route 6 Tourist Assn.)

In May of 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt hosted the first meeting of the nation’s governors at the White House to discuss conserving America’s natural resources. The meeting was attended by the president, vice president, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and 39 governors. Following this inaugural meeting, governors decided to form a bipartisan association through which they could come together to discuss mutual concerns and act collectively.

As part of the centennial celebration, NGA partnered with the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and the University of Pennsylvania Press to publish two books: “A Legacy of Leadership: Governors and American History” and “A Legacy of Innovation: Governors and Public Policy.” These books – authored by journalists, academics and historians – highlight gubernatorial achievements and specific public policy initiatives through the decades.

In addition, Governor Pawlenty released four publications to help ensure the work of the Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiative continues.

The first, “Opportunities for States in Clean Energy Research, Development & Demonstration,” outlines state roles in this area and is intended to guide states in the crucial decisions they must make about clean energy in the years ahead.

The second, “A Governor’s Guide to Clean Power Generation and Energy Efficiency ,” offers guidance for states to engage in enhanced electricity planning efforts and policies that can drive greater investment in and adoption of efficiency and cleaner power sources.

A third, “Clean and Secure State Energy Actions — 2008,” catalogs what all 55 states and territories are doing to advance a cleaner, more secure energy future, highlighting existing policy models other states can replicate.

Finally, a new Issue Brief, “Greening State Government: �Lead by Example’ Initiatives,” examines current efforts across a range of state government operations to increase energy efficiency and support the use of clean and renewable energy.

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PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, March 14, 2008 (ENS) – With continued job losses in America’s manufacturing industry and the warning signs of a national economic slowdown, Governor Edward Rendell today cited Pennsylvania’s track record of investing in green technologies and renewable energy to help revitalize the economy and create new jobs.

“America’s economy is facing pressure today from job losses, international competition, mounting national debt, and a declining dollar,” Governor Rendell said during closing keynote remarks at the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference in Pittsburgh.

“We can relieve these pressures by investing in clean and green energy efficiency and production technologies,” said Rendell. “And, in doing so, we can help put our people back to work – especially in the manufacturing industry that has been so decimated by the outsourcing of jobs to overseas firms.”

“Pennsylvania has been able to weather this slowdown because we’ve made the necessary investments in our economy over the last five years,” said the governor. “We’ve invested in our infrastructure, helped train our workforce to meet 21st century demands, supported innovation and business expansion projects, and we’ve leveraged our resources to attract private sector development in the rapidly growing renewable energy industry.”

“This formula has worked. Since 2003, we’ve helped create 3,000 new jobs in the alternative and renewable energy sectors – many of which are good-paying, skilled manufacturing positions – and $1 billion in private investment. Furthermore, our state’s unemployment rate has been below the national average in each of the last 13 consecutive months.”

Organized by the Blue Green Alliance, a strategic partnership between the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, the conference is intended to launch a nationwide dialogue about moving the United States rapidly toward leadership in creating a new green economy.

This worker monitors equipment that
turns waste into a chemical building
block for environmentally-friendly
products. (Photo courtesy NYSERDA)

The conference brought together local, state and federal policy makers; representatives of labor; business; environment and public health organizations; economic and workforce development specialists; investors; and scientists and technology experts.

On Thursday, United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard called on the union’s environmental allies to join in supporting federal investments in renewable job growth.

In a statement delivered by his assistant, Marco Trbovich, Gerard said that climate change legislation now under consideration by Congress is flawed because in its current form it fails to require any significant improvements in the greenhouse gas emissions created by countries such as China, Brazil and India.

Proposed by Senators Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut Independent, and John Warner, a Virginia Republican, the bill would reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions from trading partners of the United States by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions.

But Gerard said that under those circumstances, corporations would have incentives to build more manufacturing facilities in countries without environmental regulations, unintentionally causing a spike in greenhouse gas emissions and costing thousands more manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and Canada.

“This flaw – this gaping loophole – would encourage energy intensive industries in the U.S. to move production to those locations where the environmental rules are lax – wiping out thousands more U.S. jobs in the process,” Gerard said. “There could hardly be a worse example of good environmental intentions paving the road to an economic hell for millions of working Americans.”

In contrast, Gerard urged “supplanting half-baked subsidies like the billions in giveaways to big oil with federal investments aimed at commercializing renewables, retrofitting entire communities and producing energy-efficient transportation on an industrial scale comparable to our efforts in World War II and the Apollo mission to reach the moon.”

As the conference opened Thursday, a coalition of nonprofit environmental and economic research organizations from across the country headed by the Apollo Alliance released two new guides to help cities and states enhance opportunities in the clean, green, energy efficient job sectors.

The guide, “Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities,” was accompanied by a similar study and plan of action for state policy makers, “Greener Pathways.”

According to both documents, a job qualifies as green collar if it provides high enough wages and good benefits to support a family, opportunity to advance and build a career, and reduces waste, pollution, and other environmental risks.

Among the green collar jobs that are gaining in number and popularity, said the studies, are machinists, technicians, service workers, equipment and installation specialists, construction workers, and managers of all kinds.

The business sectors seeking such employees span alternative transportation and fuels, green building and energy efficient retrofitting, as well as renewable energy production and installation.

“The movement to make American cities more sustainable, efficient and livable is perhaps the greatest new engine for urban economic growth, innovation, and job creation in decades,” said Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance Board of Directors.

“A greener American economy can and will create jobs,” said Joel Rogers, director of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, whose work in Milwaukee is profiled in the city guide.

Milwaukee, with the help of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, has organized a major project to retrofit residential, commercial, and institutional buildings in order to reduce energy consumption. Milwaukee Energy Efficiency, or Me2, is raising both public and private capital to finance the retrofit work. Building occupants pay back the funds through charges on their utility bills, and they will realize immediate savings from reduced energy costs.

“To make real progress on economic and workforce development in the new energy economy,” Rogers said, “we must focus more carefully on key clean energy sectors and seize the opportunities in leading industries, like energy efficiency, wind, and biofuels.”

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 10, 2008 (ENS) – The state of Pennsylvania is making a $22.3 million investment in 124 projects that will help restore the state’s polluted streams, provide clean water, and help prevent floods in communities across the commonwealth

Announcing the grants on Friday, Governor Edward Rendell said Pennsylvania’s long mining history and extensive farm industry have created challenges that affect the state’s natural water resources.

Additionally, regular floods throughout the state have diminished the effectiveness of natural and man-made measures designed to protect people, businesses and communities.

“Pennsylvania has been blessed with incredible natural resources,” said Governor Rendell. “Unfortunately our streams have been tainted by agricultural run-off and acid mine drainage from the unregulated activity of the past. Furthermore, recurring floods in many places have eroded stream banks and rendered many flood measures ineffective, which can exacerbate the damage caused to our communities.

“The $22.3 million in grants we’re announcing today will help undo this damage with effective treatment systems, agricultural best management practices, stabilization work, stormwater management strategies, and flood protection projects. Together, these measures will help restore the health and natural functions of our streams,” the governor said.

The Berks County Conservation Association is receiving $171,660 to install innovative stormwater management techniques on the county agricultural campus to improve water quality and for educational purposes.

Warrington Township in Bucks County was awarded $100,000 to install stormwater best management practices, including rain gardens, rain barrels, retrofitting basins, and to provide public education and outreach in the Little Neshaminy Creek watershed.

In Delaware County, Villanova University is receiving $185,000 for stormwater wetland best management practice reconfiguration and the town of Swarthmore gets $21,759 to address stormwater management at a playground and pocket park in an urban area.

In Lancaster County, the town of Columbia was awarded $325,000 to implement a variety of stormwater best management practices, including porous asphalt and concrete surfaces, vegetated swales, and rain gardens, at the new Riverfront Park.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society receives $250,000 to continue the TreeVitalize Watersheds program that restores tree cover in Southeastern Pennsylvania, including riparian buffers and plantings in stormwater detention basins.

Of the $22.3 million awarded today by the Department of Environmental Protection, $9 million comes from the Growing Greener program in the form of watershed grants and $10.1 million comes from the Growing Greener II initiative.

The remaining $3.2 million was awarded by DEP in nonpoint source implementation program grants, which are funded by the federal government through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

The grants support acid mine drainage treatment facilities, stream bank stabilization efforts to reduce erosion and protect against flooding, added riparian buffers to filter pollutants before reaching streams, aquatic habitat improvements, and comprehensive watershed protection planning.

The grants will also be used to implement innovative agricultural and stormwater management techniques that reduce nonpoint source pollution in streams.

This year, DEP is allocating up to $2 million to begin addressing the unmet operation and maintenance costs of acid mine drainage remediation projects.

The grant funds also will support the first Watershed Renaissance Initiative, awarding $381,000 to treat acid mind discharges in Indiana County’s Bear Run watershed. The new initiative is intended to fund the complete or substantial implementation of an existing watershed restoration plan by encouraging public-private partnerships, long-term coordinated stewardship of the water resources, and educational outreach to promote environmental protection.

Since 1999, DEP has invested more than $190 million in watershed grants for 1,657 projects in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania through the traditional Growing Greener program. The grants are used to create or restore wetlands, restore stream buffer zones, eliminate causes of nonpoint source pollution, plug oil and gas wells, reclaim abandoned mine lands and restore aquatic life to streams that were lifeless due to acid mine drainage.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the $625 million Growing Greener II initiative in May 2005 to clean up rivers and streams; protect natural areas, open spaces and working farms; and shore up key programs to improve quality of life and revitalize communities across the commonwealth. Since then, DEP has awarded $38.5 million for watershed projects.

Smaller, impaired watersheds that have existing comprehensive plans to restore water quality are targeted through the Watershed Renaissance Initiative, which will again be available in next year’s grant round.

DEP is now accepting grant applications for the next Growing Greener grant round. Applications will be accepted until May 16. For more information or to download a grant application form, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Growing Greener.

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, February 28, 2008 (ENS) – By executive order, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has established a high-level task force that will evaluate what is needed to ensure Pennsylvania maintains a sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure in view of continued budget cuts from the federal government in recent years.

A federal Clean Water Needs Survey found that Pennsylvania is facing nearly $11 billion in unmet drinking water infrastructure needs and at least $7.2 billion in unmet wastewater infrastructure needs.

“Our water and wastewater infrastructure is aging,” said Governor Rendell. “Pennsylvania is facing nearly $20 billion in unmet water-related infrastructure needs, and that doesn’t even take into account ongoing capital costs and expenses associated with operations and maintenance responsibilities.”

“We need to begin developing a comprehensive plan now that supports a sustainable network of systems to protect public health, and ensure citizens and businesses don’t lose out on the quality and dependable services they have come to expect,” said the governor.

The infrastructure initiative follows on Governor Rendell’s pledge last month with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to lobby for the funding to upgrade the nation’s aging infrastructure.

The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force is to consider new funding options and non-structural alternatives to capital upgrades, such as nutrient credit trading, water re-use and conservation.

It is responsible for developing a report by October 1 that provides recommendations and financing options to support water-related services in the governor’s fiscal year 2009-10 budget proposal.

Members of the task force are to include representatives of the administration, General Assembly, academia, and the state’s Office of Consumer Advocate, as well as local government and municipal associations.

“Shrinking support from the federal government means the financial burden associated with the needed work is increasingly falling on states and local municipalities,” said the governor. “The commonwealth alone has suffered a 50 percent cut in the federal funds we had received previously to support water infrastructure. Without that needed support, our economy, environment and quality of life will suffer.”

The governor pointed to continued cuts in the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, one of the state’s most important tools for funding water infrastructure improvements.

Pennsylvania’s share of the state revolving fund program has been cut by about half in the past three years, down $30 million to $27 million, while President George W. Bush’s upcoming fiscal year budget proposal calls for another $330 million in cuts to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, largely aimed at wastewater projects.

The president requested only $555 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in FY 2009, which would be the lowest level of funding for the program in its history if enacted.

“While I’ve called on Congress to restore these valuable funds, we must take steps to ensure we have reliable systems in place that deliver dependable services,” said Governor Rendell.

“The high-level task force I’m establishing through this executive order will focus on finding solutions to Pennsylvania’s drinking water and wastewater system needs,” he said, “either through new funding sources or cost-effective, non-structural alternatives.

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, February 7, 2008 (ENS) – Declaring that Pennsylvania must act boldly to fix its huge number of structurally deficient bridges, high-hazard dams and outdated aviation and rail freight facilities, Governor Edward Rendell this week urged the General Assembly today to approve his rebuilding Pennsylvania proposal.

The governor’s $28 billion budget proposals includes $100 million for flood-control projects over the next three years.

He says the additional funds will allow the state to increase the number of flood-protection grants awarded to municipalities each year, boost support for stream improvement projects, and complete emergency closure work and rehabilitation projects.

“Pennsylvanians have battled a number of storms that resulted in flooding over the past few years,” said the governor. “Unfortunately, in some communities, rivers and streams were not able to handle the resulting runoff and water flow. What we were left with was hundreds of millions of dollars in damages in the form of lost homes and damaged property and infrastructure.”

House cleaning after heavy flooding from
the Delaware River, July 2006. Water
level reached five feet high inside this
house in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Leif Skoogfors courtesy FEMA)

Debt incurred for flood mitigation efforts will be paid by collecting a surcharge of 7 cents per $100 of homeowners’ insurance premium and putting those funds in a dedicated account for this purpose.

Total flood-related debt service in 2011 is expected to be $3.3 million

Under the enhanced flood-protection program, the state will have additional resources to help communities rehabilitate existing flood-protection projects.

There will be more resources to repair or replace deteriorated culverts and construct new projects like waterway channels, floodwalls, levees and stream bank stabilization, said Governor Rendell.

In 2008-09, Rebuilding Pennsylvania calls for accelerating $200 million for bridge repairs, $13 million for flood-control projects, $12 million for repairs to state-owned dams, $10 million for new rail freight projects and $5 million for aviation projects.

The 2008-09 budget proposal also includes $15 million in new General Fund investments for local dam repairs, flood-plain mapping and infrastructure for business development.

The Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, will be responsible for working with those state agencies and municipalities that own the unsafe dams.

Across the commonwealth, there are 24 state owned high-hazard dams that have been classified as unsafe by DEP’s dam safety program. Repair work to some of these dams is in the design or construction phase, or is already eligible for funding through the state’s capital budget. The cost to repair the remaining 17 dams has been estimated at $37 million.

Additionally, 21 unsafe high-hazard dams are owned by county or local governments. The governor has called for the state matching loan/grant program to help cover 30 percent of the cost of repairing those dams.

“Dams can protect downstream communities and the environment, and they can provide recreational opportunities for anglers and boater in addition to a reliable supply of water,” Governor Rendell said. “This initiative will allow us to preserve or breach unsafe structures to eliminate the potential for a catastrophe.”

But Republicans in the General Assembly rejected Rendell’s budget as too expensive.

“If enacted, what the governor has proposed would increase spending by more than $1.6 billion or a 6.1 percent increase over last year’s budget,” said Representative Rick Geist of Altoona.

“Since he took office in 2003,” Geist said, “the governor has increased spending each year by more than a billion dollars and this is bad economic policy for Pennsylvania.”

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