캐시 호철(Kathy Hochul) 뉴욕주 주지사는 1월 15일(현지시간) 주정부의 물 인프라 개선 및 지자체 간 보조금 프로그램을 통해 ‘깨끗한 물 인프라 프로젝트(clean water infrastructure projects)’에 3억2천500만 달러의 보조금을 지원한다고 발표했다. 

이번  WIIA 및 IMG 보조금은 호철 주지사가 2024년 국정연설에서 발표한 ‘깨끗한 물 기금 공약(clean water funding commitments)’의 이행으로, 소규모, 농촌, 열악한 지역 사회에 대한 다음과 같은 지원이 포함된다.

농촌지역 사회를 위한 추가 혜택

국가로부터 막대한 재정 지원을 받고 있음에도 불구하고 일부 지방자치단체는 요금 납부자에게 재정적 부담을 전가하고 있다. 소규모, 농촌 및 열악한 지역 사회의 이러한 재정적 부담을 완화하기 위해 호철 주지사는 EFC에 소규모 농촌 지역 사회에 대한 물 인프라 보조금을 순적격사업비(net eligible project costs)의 25%에서 50%로 증액하도록 지시했다.

자금 조달 기회에 대한 공평한 접근을 보장하기 위해 지역사회 자원 확장

소규모, 농촌 및 열악한 지역 사회는 물 인프라 노후화와 신규 오염물질의 영향으로 인프라 개선을 위한 프로젝트를 진행하는 데 필요한 자원과 역량을 보유하지 못한 경우가 많다.

호철 주지사는 2023년에 출범한 환경시설공단(Environmental Facilities Corporation, EFC)의 지역 사회 지원팀 프로그램을 확대해 뉴욕의 중요한 물 인프라를 개선하기 위해 필요한 지원을 제공한다. 

식수 보호

PFAS의 위협에 대처하기 위해 호철 주지사는 신규 오염물질 프로젝트에 대한 보조금을 순적격사업비의 60%에서 70%로 증액했다. 이 보조금은 지역 사회가 식수 공급에 대한 위험을 제거하기 위해 투자하는데 있어 비용이 장벽이 되지 않도록 돕는다.

EFC는 보건부(DOH) 및 환경보전부(DEC)과 협력해 WIIA 및 IMG 프로그램을 관리한다.

이번 발표는 뉴욕주의 42억 달러 규모의 깨끗한 물 인프라에 대한 투자, 「깨끗한 물, 깨끗한 공기 및 녹색 일자리 환경 채권법(Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act)」을 기반으로 한다. 

호철 주지사는 지난해 12월 「환경채권법(Environmental Bond Act)」에 따라 수여된 첫 번째 기금을 포함해 WIIA, IMG 및 정화조 교체 보조금으로 4억7900만 달러 규모의 투자를 발표했다. 보조금의 3분의 2 이상이 취약한 지역 사회와 잠재적인 환경 정의 지역에 봉사하는 프로젝트에 수여됐다.

한편, EFC는 기후 변화에 직면해 악천후를 견딜 수 있도록 수질을 보호하고 지역 사회의 필수 인프라를 강화하기 위한 호철 주지사의 추가 계획을 구현하기 위해 노력하고 있다. 여기에는 새로운 오염 물질을 처리하거나 납 수도관을 교체하는 식수 프로젝트를 위한 엔지니어링 계획, 보조금 프로그램뿐만 아니라 녹색 지붕 및 투수성 포장을 포함한 주 전역의 녹색 인프라를 구축하기 위한 녹색 회복탄력성 보조금 프로그램을 포함한다.

수질에 대한 뉴욕의 약속 

뉴욕은 물 인프라에 대한 투자를 계속 늘리고 있다. 캐시 호철 주지사의 주도하에 뉴욕은 2017년부터 물 인프라에 총 50억 달러를 투자했다. 이러한 투자를 활용하고 지방 정부와의 지속적인 협력을 위해 호철 주지사는 올해 지역 사회 지원팀을 출범해 EFC의 기술 지원 프로그램을 확대하고 소규모, 농촌 및 열악한 지역 사회가 이 기금을 활용해 깨끗한 물 인프라 요구 사항을 해결할 수 있도록 지원했다. 

[원문보기]

Governor Hochul Announces $325 Million in Grants for Clean Water Infrastructure Projects Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $325 million in grants is available for clean water infrastructure projects through the next round of the State's Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs. This action immediately delivers on Governor Hochul’s clean water funding commitments announced in her 2024 State of the State, which include a series of changes to maximize benefits for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. With these important changes and critical financial support for local governments across New York, Governor Hochul is laying the foundation for a healthier, more resilient future, ensuring every New Yorker has access to safe and clean water, creating jobs, and boosting the economy.

“New York is committed to funding water infrastructure upgrades because every person has a right to clean water,” Governor Hochul said. “With this additional funding for communities across the state, we are providing critical resources to local economies, creating jobs, and safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.”

This round of WIIA/IMG boasts improvements announced as part of Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State to maximize benefits for rural and disadvantaged communities, including:

Additional benefits for rural communities.

Even with extensive financial support from the State, some municipalities are left passing a large financial burden to their ratepayers. To alleviate this burden on small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, Governor Hochul is directing EFC to increase water infrastructure grants for small rural communities from 25 percent to 50 percent of net eligible project costs. This change will support smaller communities, like those in the Adirondacks, which often struggle with accessing clean water grants and delivering affordable projects.

Expanding community resources to ensure equitable access to funding opportunities.

Small, rural, and disadvantaged communities are particularly impacted by deteriorating water infrastructure and emerging contaminants, and often do not possess the resources and capacity necessary to advance a project for infrastructure improvement. Governor Hochul is expanding EFC’s Community Assistance Teams program that launched in 2023 to provide essential support for updating New York’s critical water infrastructure. The teams are ready to engage with any community that needs help with its water infrastructure. Communities can request a meeting, register for upcoming webinars, and learn more at efc.ny.gov/cat.

Protecting drinking water.

Continuing New York’s national leadership on addressing the threat of PFAS, Governor Hochul is increasing awards for emerging contaminant projects from 60% to 70% of net eligible project costs. This change will help ensure cost is not a barrier for communities working to make life-saving investments that eliminate risks to their drinking water supplies.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) administers the WIIA and IMG programs in coordination with the Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Conservation (DEC). Governor Hochul’s plans will expand the success of these programs by assisting municipalities that have often struggled with accessing clean water grants and delivering affordable projects.

Applications and full eligibility criteria will become available at efc.ny.gov on Monday, Feb. 5.

EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re continuing to remove barriers that have traditionally held communities back from accessing significant investments in water infrastructure. The initiatives we’re implementing will help expand the WIIA/IMG grant programs’ legacy of modernizing aging systems and protecting drinking water. Together, in partnership with local governments, we are taking yet another giant step toward a cleaner, more resilient future that will ensure safe drinking water for all New Yorkers and protect our public health and invaluable natural resources.”

Today’s announcement builds on the success of New York State’s nation-leading investment in clean water infrastructure, the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, and the continued focus on equity and environmental justice. Governor Hochul announced $479 million in WIIA, IMG and septic replacement grant awards in December, including the first funding awarded under the Environmental Bond Act. More than two thirds of the funding was awarded to projects serving disadvantaged communities and potential environmental justice areas, underscoring the State’s commitment to awarding grant funding to communities that need it most.

EFC is working to implement additional elements of Governor Hochul’s plan to safeguard water quality and strengthen communities’ vital infrastructure systems to withstand severe weather in the face of climate change. These include initiating an engineering planning grant program for drinking water projects that treat emerging contaminants or replace lead service lines, as well as a supercharged green resiliency grant program to build green infrastructure across the state, including green roofs and permeable pavement.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Environmental Facilities Corporation Board Chair Basil Seggos said, “Governor Hochul continues to prioritize the protection of New York’s water quality and today’s announcement for the first tranche of water infrastructure funding this year demonstrates the State’s sustained commitment to investing in communities statewide. By increasing awards and enhancing technical assistance to municipalities, New York’s investments in water infrastructure are instrumental in ensuring access to clean drinking water and improving aging infrastructure in hard-pressed communities.”  

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Clean drinking water should be accessible to all New Yorkers, no matter who they are or where they live, and this announcement once again demonstrates Governor Hochul’s commitment to safe drinking water for all New Yorkers. This funding will help ensure communities can finance critically important infrastructure projects that will safeguard their water and health for years to come.”

Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Clean water infrastructure is an essential element of Governor Hochul’s innovative and comprehensive efforts to create healthy, vibrant, equitable and sustainable communities throughout the State. The Governor’s announcement today of $325 million in funding availability for these critical infrastructure projects underscores her commitment to modernizing the State’s aging infrastructure systems and prioritizing the small, rural and disadvantaged communities that may have been neglected in the past.”

New York's Commitment to Water Quality 

New York continues to increase its investments in water infrastructure. Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, New York has invested a total of $5 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, the Governor launched Community Assistance Teams this year to expand EFC's technical assistance program and help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding to address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with their water infrastructure needs is encouraged to contact EFC at http://www.efc.ny.gov/CAT. 

The voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent. 

[출처 = New York State( https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-325-million-grants-clean-water-infrastructure-projects-statewide) / 2024년 1월 15일]

[번역 = 박원희 기자]