Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that federal stimulus funding will allow the state to expand the list of clean water projects it can fund this year by adding “shovel ready” projects in South Windsor, New Milford and Stafford.
A total of $48.5 million in federal stimulus funding in addition to the $270 million in state money currently available will allow the state to fund all of the highly rated municipal wastewater infrastructure projects ready to proceed to construction.
“This boost from the stimulus package, when added to existing state money, creates a real ‘win-win’ scenario for Connecticut,” Governor Rell said. “These funds will allow us to undertake construction projects that will create much-needed jobs and paychecks for our citizens. In addition, the work that gets done will bring long-lasting environmental gains for our state by expanding our efforts to protect and improve the quality of our rivers, streams and the Long Island Sound.”
The expanded funding is reflected in a proposed amended Clean Water Fund (CWF) priority list published by the state Department of Environmental Protection. This document can be viewed at www.ct.gov/dep/cleanwaterfund.
This draft document will be finalized after consideration of comments received at a public hearing scheduled for March 25 and written comments that can be submitted until April 13. The CWF, administered by DEP, provides grants and loans to finance improvements to municipal sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants.
The projects planned in South Windsor, New Milford and Stafford – where work could begin as early as this spring – would modernize the wastewater treatment plants and add technology to remove nitrogen from wastewater. High levels of nitrogen lead to lower levels of dissolved oxygen in Long Island Sound during the summer.
While the stimulus funds allow more projects on the priority list to be funded, the ratio of grant-to-loan funding is not changing for any Connecticut municipalities. Therefore, for administrative efficiency, Governor Rell said that a single Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) project to separate combined sewers in Hartford is proposed to be designated as an official American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project. (ARRA is the formal name of the federal stimulus bill.)
“The MDC project is a perfect match for the requirements of the ARRA,” Governor Rell said. “It will provide jobs and it is already under way, with two contracts recently bid and more contracts to be bid this year. With this designation, we will list this project on the state Web site we have set up to track the use of stimulus dollars. Anyone interested in following the progress of this project – or any other project funded with stimulus dollars – can do so by visiting www.recovery.ct.gov.”
The project also meets ARRA requirements for providing a “green” infrastructure component for at least 20 percent of the allocation. Separately, Governor Rell has set a state goal of having all state stimulus projects include a 25 percent “green” component.
“By their very nature, these projects are all about protecting and improving our environment,” the Governor said. “We are making certain these projects include the latest available treatment technologies, which will reduce the amount of energy and water needed to operate local wastewater treatment plants, and incorporate low-impact practices that will reduce the volume of stormwater runoff in the project area.”
The State of Connecticut has a long-standing commitment to improving water quality, protecting public health and protecting and enhancing natural resources through the CWF. Since it was created in 1986, more than $961 million in general obligation bonds (which are used to provide grants) and $1.75 billion in revenue bonds (which are used to provide loans) have been authorized and committed to wastewater infrastructure. This has allowed the state to fund projects in 102 communities.
The $270 million in state funds currently in the CWF were previously proposed by Governor Rell and approved by the General Assembly and the state Bond Commission.
