WASHINGTON -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan joined elected and local officials in announcing Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans totaling $300 million for water infrastructure upgrades in Washington, D.C., Louisville, Ky., and the Florida Keys. EPA's 49 WIFIA loans are providing over $9.3 billion in credit assistance to help finance nearly $20 billion for water infrastructure while creating approximately 49,000 jobs and saving ratepayers over $4 billion.
"Through water infrastructure investments and programs like WIFIA, we can improve public health and protect the environment while creating jobs and supporting better equity in water affordability," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Today's announcements underscore the potential community benefits of building back stronger by investing in water infrastructure under the American Jobs Plan."
The savings realized from these three loans can be passed on to customers through continued service improvements from additional infrastructure investments or greater rate stability throughout the lives of the loans. Construction and operation for these three projects are expected to create more than 1,900 jobs.
Washington, D.C.
At an event with Washington D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, and other local officials, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced a $156 million WIFIA loan to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) to finance critical water infrastructure improvements throughout the city. EPA's WIFIA loan will help finance infrastructure projects that will increase public health protection and drinking water quality for the 700,000 plus residents served by DC Water, including those in lower income communities and communities of color.
"Especially right now, it is critical that we are able to continue making progress on projects that improve our region's infrastructure and help us build a more resilient city - and to be able to do so without creating a new financial burden for residents, especially those who have been hit the hardest by this pandemic," said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. "We thank the Biden Administration and Administrator Regan for recognizing this need and for investing in our shared goal to build back better."
Louisville, Ky.
Afterward, at a virtual event with Kentucky's Secretary of Energy and Environment Rebecca Goodman, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, and other officials, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced a $97 million WIFIA loan to the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). EPA's WIFIA loan supports upgrades to Kentucky's largest and oldest water quality treatment center that will improve wastewater infrastructure to benefit local communities while saving money. The improvements significantly increase energy production and reuse-bringing the facility closer to energy independence-and improve system operations and reliability while maintaining affordable wastewater services for MSD's 751,000 customers.
"As the largest plant of its kind in Kentucky, the Morris Forman Water Quality Treatment Center is a vital piece of our local infrastructure. And beyond addressing deferred maintenance, this project will significantly increase energy production and reuse, bringing it closer to energy independence while improving reliability," said Louisville Metro Mayor Greg Fischer. "So, our local environment benefits, as do the residents who live nearby. I join our fantastic MSD team, community partners and the EPA leadership in celebrating the EPA's WIFIA loan to help make much-needed improvements."
Florida Keys, Fla.
EPA also announced a $49 million WIFIA loan to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority in Key West, Florida for infrastructure upgrades that will bolster the climate resiliency of the drinking water system serving Florida Keys residents. EPA's WIFIA loan will help replace an aging reverse osmosis plant and 12 miles of aging pipes, ensuring a reliable backup water system during extreme weather events.
"The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is pleased to have the opportunity to utilize the funding made available by the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act," said the Authority's Executive Director Kerry Shelby. "This low-interest federal loan program will significantly improve the affordability of our reverse osmosis water plant construction that will serve as an emergency water supply for the lower keys. We want to thank our staff and our financial team for all their hard work in making this loan successful."
