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PennVEST Makes $216.3 Million Investment In 33 Drinking Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction Projects In 21 Counties

On October 16, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the investment of $216.3 million in 33 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source projects across 21 counties.

The projects funded include replacing lead pipes and service lines, rehabilitating aging water treatment systems, improving wastewater and stormwater systems, upgrading service capabilities, and reducing environmental contaminants through compliance with current regulatory levels and agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs).

“Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and my Administration is driving out hundreds of millions of dollars to our local communities to support that goal and ensure the water is safe when families turn on the faucet,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “We’ve already helped replace over 30,000 lead service lines across the Commonwealth and working together, across party lines and all levels of government, we’re continuing to get stuff done and deliver results for the good people of Pennsylvania.”

“There will never be a more cost-effective time to transform our water and wastewater treatment facilities into self-sustaining energy-makers.” said PennVEST Chairman Dr. Brian Regli. “Drinking water and wastewater operators planning to incorporate clean energy into their facilities have the ability to benefit from the IRA [federal Inflation Reduction Act] Tax Credits, while at the same time, utilizing PennVEST BIL [federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law] funding for the same project.”

The largest project funded is a $62.6 million loan to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority for replacing small, older drinking water main to prevent potential line breaks.

Two agricultural pollution reduction projects were funded--

-- Butler County Conservation District – received a $1,120,000 grant to upgrade the Four Seasons Dairy Farm’s nutrient management operations and stormwater controls in Penn Township.

-- Centre County Conservation District – received a $1,540,000 grant to upgrade the Hall Farm beef facility’s nutrient management operations and stormwater controls in Union Township.

With the national focus on upgrading the country’s infrastructure, through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), PennVEST has more capacity now than ever before to provide cost-effective funding for water quality projects throughout Pennsylvania.

PennVEST continues to pivot as new opportunities arise, to ensure that entities execute water quality upgrades in the most cost-effective ways.

PennVEST financing is available for a variety of clean water projects including facility projects that incorporate clean energy technologies such as solar, anaerobic digesters, hydrothermal carbonization, and dam-sourced or in-conduit hydropower, as stand-alone projects or as a portion of a larger project that benefits the facility.

The implementation of these technologies is economical for a facility’s long-term operation and maintenance budget but also allows the facility to receive 30 – 60 percent of its eligible investment in federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)Tax Credits, in the form of a direct cash payment from the IRS upon project completion.

PennVEST funding for water improvement projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener funds, Marcellus Legacy funds [funded by Act 13 drilling impact fees], the federal Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, federal grant awards to PennVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Clean Water Act and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, and recycled loan repayments from previous PennVEST funding awards.

Click Here for a list of projects funded by county.

Visit the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority website to learn more about water infrastructure funding opportunities.

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