Sen. Jeff Merkle (OR)
introduced the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2012 (S. 3626). The bill would permit the Environmental
Protection Agency to make loans or
loan guarantees directly to certain entities for improvements to drinking
water, wastewater,
and stormwater
systems. Presumably this program would
not complete with existing state revolving fund (SRF) programs
because it is aimed a large projects (minimum financing of $20 million).
This may seem like a boon to big cities, but considering that most of
us live in urban areas that are served by large drinking water and wastewater
utilities, it makes sense. While they’re
at it, Congress
could increase funding to the SRFs and raise the allotment for private activity
bonds,
may be even targeting a portion of it for water improvements.
Senate Signals Interest in Tackling Energy Policy
Senate Signals Interest in Tackling Energy Policy
Senators Ron Wyden (OR)
and Lisa Murkowski (AK)
indicated that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will likely be looking at
several pieces of legislation next year aimed at updating the nation’s energy
policy.
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