Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021 and authorized $1.2 trillion of investment through existing and new programs. Through this monumental investment, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will receive billions of dollars for environmental projects within Pennsylvania. These projects will provide clean water to residents, clean up legacy pollution, and spur clean energy investments.
DEP intends to take advantage of federal funding opportunities in four ways:
- Receive and implement formula funding;
- Apply for competitive opportunities offered by Federal agencies;
- Provide support to other funding applicants through partnerships, letters of support, or financial match;
- Share federal funding opportunities to ensure potential applicants like Pennsylvania businesses, schools, communities, and nonprofits are aware of and competing for investments.
What’s New & Upcoming
Accordion
Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionA requirement of Executive Order 14008, Justice 40 is an effort to ensure that at least 40 percent of the benefits of certain Federal funds are realized in communities that have faced historic underinvestment. These communities typically have felt a disproportionate share of environmental burdens.
IIJA provides a historic amount of funding to clean up and restore the abandoned coal mine sites across Pennsylvania. Approximately $244.9 million per year for 15 years will be provided to Pennsylvania for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. For more information: Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation
It is estimated there could be 300,000 abandoned wells in Pennsylvania dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. IIJA could provide up to $400 million to Pennsylvania for abandoned well plugging. For more information: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
The Energy Programs Office (EPO), Pennsylvania’s State Energy Office, expects to receive approximately $67 million in IIJA formula funds from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE). For more information: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Over the next 5 years, more than $1.3 billion will be provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the State Revolving Loan Fund for drinking water and wastewater projects. These funds will be administered by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, PENNVEST. For more information: Infrastructure Finance
The IIJA provides additional funding to Pennsylvania for Chesapeake Bay programmatic activities. DEP expects to receive approximately $5.6 million over the next several years. For more information: Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office
For questions about IIJA: contact DEP’s Infrastructure Implementation Coordinators: Louie Krak at lkrak@pa.gov and Abbey Cadden at acadden@pa.gov.