President Biden Unveils Massive Infrastructure Plan
President Biden's roughly $2 trillion plan aims to improve U.S. infrastructure and shift to greener energy over the next eight years. The infrastructure spending plan is the first of a two-part proposal to help the nation's economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The President is expected to unveil his package focusing on the "care economy," including investments in education and child care, in coming weeks.
U.S. Energy Department Wants to Loan $43B for EV and Clean Energy Projects
U.S. Department of Energy announced that they will revive their Loan Programs Office, which has $43 billion in lending authority. The plan is to direct billions of dollars into the electric vehicle industry to boost domestic production and deployment, creating 647,000 electric vehicle jobs in the next five years, and make $4.5 billion available for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Organic Valley Launches $1M Loan Program for Clean Energy Projects on Farms
A Wisconsin-based organic cooperative, Organic Valley, announced their "Powering the Good" low-interest loan fund to invest in clean energy projects on farms. Created through a partnership with Clean Energy Credit Union, the $1 million initiative will provide loans at below-market rates to Organic Valley producers for projects like solar electric systems and geothermal heating and cooling.
Colorado Main Street Launches Heritage Energy Project
Colorado Main Street has launched an interagency collaboration to combine quality historic preservation with statewide energy goals and to integrate existing resources and high-impact environmental preservation methods such as historic tax credits, History Colorado State Historical Fund grants, and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing.
How Infrastructure is Banking on Green Banks
Alaska, Maine, and South Carolina are evaluating the creation of green banks — financing institutions created with the explicit mission of combining public and private funds to invest in climate solutions and green infrastructure. They would join roughly 20 other U.S. jurisdictions that have used this mechanism to drive more than $5 billion in clean energy investments as of the end of 2019, including Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, and Washington, D.C.
USDA Invests $598M to Improve and Modernize Rural Electric Infrastructure
The USDA announced a $598 million rural electric loan package to build or improve electric infrastructure in 11 states. This funding will benefit 460,000 rural residents and businesses in Arizona, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. Several of the loans will help expand smart grid technologies, which can be a catalyst for broadband and other telecommunications services.
City of Boston, MA Completes $11M Investment in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Upgrades Across 14 City Buildings
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the completion of the first phase of Renew Boston Trust, the City of Boston's initiative to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for municipal buildings. The first phase of the $45 million investment spans 14 city-owned buildings - including libraries, community centers, police, and fire stations - and helps reduce energy use, save money, and reduce city-emitted greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
American Society of Civil Engineers Releases 2021 Infrastructure Report Card
The 2021 Report Card for America's Infrastructure reveals we've made some incremental progress toward restoring our nation's infrastructure. For the first time in 20 years, our infrastructure is out of the D range. While this report grades 17 categories individually, our infrastructure is a system of systems and more connected than ever before.
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