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Groups Briefed On Requirements For Green Project Reserve Stimulus Funding - Video Blog
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Paul Marchetti, PA Infrastructure Investment Authority, and Department of Environmental Protection staff this week briefed environmental, local government, engineering and other groups on the application requirements for the Green Project Reserve portion of the federal stimulus funding Pennsylvania is to receive.
PennVEST and DEP have also set up a series of briefing meetings later in April.
Pennsylvania will receive about $220 million for water infrastructure project, $65 million for drinking water and $155 million for wastewater. Half of the funds must be allocated in grants and at least 20 percent must be for "green infrastructure." A minimum of $44 million will be available for green infrastructure projects.
The deadline for applications is May 18 and PennVEST will award funding at its July meeting.
The formal language included in the stimulus package under the Clean Water Revolving Fund section says: "not less than 20 percent of the funds appropriated herein for the Revolving Funds shall be for projects to address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements or other environmentally innovative activities."
Generally, greenprojects involving improving water quality or drinking water (including water conservation), energy efficiency at any wastewater/drinking water facility or a project that would address carbon sequestration or climate change which also improves water quality, could be eligible for the Green Project Reserve funding.
Several important points were made during the briefing and question and answer section which followed--
-- There is a firm deadline of May 18 for green infrastructure projects. The requirement for all permits from DEP or other sources to be in hand at the time the application is filed has NOT been waived as it was for the February deadline; -- Projects must be "shovel ready." Projects must be under construction or under contract to be constructed by October 1;
-- Applicants must comply with all existing environmental review requirements;
-- Applicants must comply with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise requirements, however, DEP is developing a new process for compliance it hopes to have finished by April 20;
-- Projects must incorporate the Davis-Bacon Act requirements for wage rates; and
-- Projects must use products produced in the United States.
Several documents were distributed at the meeting, but they do not represent the final requirements for this program and ranking criteria have not been finalized--
-- Green Project Reserve Program Summary;
-- PowerPoint Presentation Used At Briefing;
-- Green Project Reserve Question/Answer Sheet; and
-- EPA Green Infrastructure Fact Sheet.
Follow Up Meetings
PennVEST and DEP have scheduled a series of follow-up meetings to further refine the guidance on eligible projects and on how to fill out a PennVEST application--
--April 14 -- Public Meeting to take questions on revised application guidance. Auditorium, Rachel Carson Building. 1:00.
-- April 20 -- Online Webinar on the application process. 2:00.
The latest information on the Green Project Reserve Program will be posted on the PennVEST website starting April 6. PennVEST/DEP published a formal notice soliciting applications in the April 4 PA Bulletin.
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4/3/2009 |
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