(AGENPARL) – mar 26 settembre 2023 Issued: Sep 26, 2023 (1:08pm EDT)
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $16 Million WIFIA Loan for Water System
Reliability in Oregon
WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announced a $16 million Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Oregon City, Oregon. This funding will
modernize century-old infrastructure to meet the drinking water needs of the
city’s 37,000 residents while better preparing the community for wildfires.
Since its creation, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced $19 billion in
financing to support 110 projects that are strengthening drinking water,
wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 60,000 jobs.
“Through our WIFIA loan program, the Biden-Harris Administration is making
critical investments in water infrastructure in communities across the
country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Oregon City – like
other cities that have received WIFIA funding – is prioritizing upgrading
outdated water infrastructure and securing its water system against threats
such as cyber-attacks and wildfires, ensuring clean, safe, and reliable access
to water for generations to come.”
Located in a wildfire-prone region, Oregon City currently relies on
infrastructure that is over 100 years old to meet local demand. This WIFIA
loan accelerates investment to modernize aging, high-risk water pipes, some of
which are lined with cast iron and asbestos. By improving this infrastructure,
the city will be able to meet peak demands that meet the fire department’s
water pressure and flow needs. Additionally, this loan is enabling the city to
enhance the water system’s cybersecurity through a new computer system. By
completing these projects, the city will improve the reliability and
resiliency of its drinking water service to meet the everyday needs of its
residents and be more prepared for wildfires and other potential service
disruptions. 
“I created the WIFIA program to invest in water infrastructure projects and
job creation after hearing from local Oregon leaders that water infrastructure
is one of the top issues facing their communities,” said Senator Jeff
Merkley.  “This WIFIA funding through the EPA will help Oregon City improve
their water infrastructure and strengthen the city’s resilience to wildfire.
WIFIA continues to be a great model for delivering results through local and
federal collaboration.”
“With voter approval combined with federal grant funds made available from
the American Rescue Act, the City was able to pursue and secure a loan through
the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA),” said Special
Projects Senior Engineer and Project Manager for the City and the WIFIA
Program Manager Patty Nelson. “Funding will allow the city to address cyber
security, rehabilitate and replace aging infrastructure and improve water
transmission in the system to better serve its customers now and in the
future.” 
“The voters of Oregon City also get the credit for making this project
possible,” said Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff. “If it weren’t for
their approval, we wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of the WIFIA
program.”
Through the WIFIA program, Oregon City is accelerating investment in its water
system while saving rate payers money. The city will increase capital
investment in the next two years by 300% and save approximately $3 million.
Investing in water infrastructure will create nearly 200 construction and
operation jobs.
Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments
under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Background 
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014,
the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA
program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water
infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance
for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an
active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in
billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.
EPA recently announced the availability of an additional $7.5 million in WIFIA
funding for 2023. This new funding builds off the success of previous WIFIA
funding rounds, totaling $33 billion, and will allow EPA to finance even more
high priority water infrastructure projects. The Agency is currently accepting
letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans on a rolling basis. Learn more
about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan..
In addition to WIFIA loans, there are many federal funding resources available
for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation
investment in the nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in
upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
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