GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $5 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDS FOR CLEAN WATER PROJECTS IN THE CAPITAL REGION Governor David A. Paterson today announced $5 million for innovative water quality projects in the Capital Region through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds were awarded to six different projects through a new State initiative known as the Green Innovation Grant Program, which promotes sustainable, environmentally sensitive water infrastructure and technologies.
The grants will support cost-cutting solutions for progressive water conservation, energy efficiency technologies for drinking water systems and clean water infrastructure. The projects include green roofs, permeable pavement, rain harvesting and progressive wastewater treatment processes. In addition, the program expands green job opportunities across the State and builds upon a legacy of green municipal works and entrepreneurship.
"These investments boost local economies and create new jobs, while also promoting our environmental sustainability. The Capital Region will soon see innovative solutions to threats to our rivers, lakes, and streams that make for healthier water systems," Governor Paterson said. "I applaud President Obama, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and our Congressional Delegation for their work to secure these critical funds that promote economic recovery, development and environmental stewardship."
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said: "These Green Innovations Projects will allow New Yorkers to confront a range of clean water issues in creative ways, and provide real solutions during these economically challenging times. Green infrastructure projects are helping us rebuild the foundations for prosperity that kept our economy strong in the past and are making us more sustainable for the future."
Last March, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) solicited projects to identify green infrastructure opportunities in need of funds. Officials from EFC, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and State Department of Health reviewed nearly 300 applications seeking nearly $468 million. The selected projects were then submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final approval. Each grant recipient must comply with the ARRA, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act and the New York State Revolving Fund requirements.
New York received $432 million through the ARRA for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $86 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The ARRA requires states to direct 20 percent of their stimulus funding to water quality projects that use innovative approaches to energy and water efficiency, incorporate stormwater infrastructure, and use innovative treatment technologies. A full list of the grant recipients announced today is available at www.nysefc.org/greengrants.
Capital Region projects to receive Green Innovation Grants include:
$2.9 million to the Albany County Sewer District for the installation of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System to capture waste heat and produce electricity from Albany County Sewer District's existing facility.
$1 million to the University at Albany, Albany County, for the installation of various water efficiency and environmental initiatives including water meters, and low-flow fixtures. This project is projected to reduce water use by 19 million gallons per year.
$598,500 to the New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, Saratoga County, to convert a parking lot area to porous pavement and install a bioretention area to treat stormwater runoff from park roads and parking lots.
$450,000 to the Troy Department of Public Utilities, Rensselaer County, for the installation of vibration leak detection equipment along 155 miles of distribution mains. This will enable the City to identify and reduce water lost through leaks and result in saving approximately 350 million gallons of water per year.
$100,300 to the Village of Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, for the installation of a mixer in the sludge holding tank and solar panels to provide clean renewable energy for the mixer.
$75,000 to the Village of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, for the installation of 215 new water meters to reduce demand on the Village's five source wells by approximately 4.5 million gallons per year.
Source: New York Governor's Office
Governor O'Malley Introduces 2009 Smart, Green and Growing Legislative Initiatives
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Martin O'Malley today unveiled a series of initiatives comprising part of the O'Malley-Brown Administration's 2009 legislative agenda. Today's legislative announcements served to further Maryland's Smart, Green and Growing initiative, and also included a presentation of the ....
Delaware Jobs: Energy to Keep Moving Newark - In his weekly message, Governor Markell talks about some events of the past week that focused on his and the state's energy to keep moving on the jobs front and show progress that Delaware is moving forward to grow new businesses and improve businesses that are already here.
