Infrastructure Update

Press Releases      

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Advances Gateway Hudson River Tunnel Project  

July 6, 2023 | Source: White House 

On Thursday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced it is advancing the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel project to the next phase in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, a critical step towards unlocking up to $6.88 billion in funding from this program. The project is a long-overdue investment to construct a new Hudson River Tunnel between New York and New Jersey and rehabilitate the 110-year old rail tunnel that carries 200,000 passenger trips per day on New Jersey Transit and Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor. The announcement officially begins the Engineering phase of the project and allows the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) to begin early actions like utility relocations, critical real estate acquisitions, demolition, procurement of specialized equipment and materials, and further design 

DOE Announces $45 Million to Boost Domestic Solar Manufacturing 

July 6, 2023 | Source: DOE 

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $45 million to support pilot manufacturing of solar components that can contribute to a domestic manufacturing sector capable of meeting the Administration’s solar deployment goals without relying on imported products. The Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator funding opportunity will fund up to 12 projects to help establish a network of manufacturers across the domestic solar supply chain focused on polysilicon production, silicon ingots and wafers, solar cells, glass and other module components, and associated manufacturing equipment. The funding will also support the development of new dual use solar technologies such as agrivoltaics and building-integrated photovoltaics, to create new markets for American products. 

Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $200 Million in States and Tribal Nations to Modernize America’s Electrical Grid 

July 6, 2023 | Source: DOE  

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced nine states and three tribal nations as the third cohort to receive a combined total of $207.6 million in Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, these grants will help modernize the electric grid to reduce impacts of climate-driven extreme weather and natural disasters while also ensuring power sector reliability. This funding will ensure all communities have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity while helping deliver on the President’s ambitious clean energy goals. 

HUD Announces More Than $3.1 Billion to Help People Experiencing Homelessness 

July 5, 2023 | Source: HUD 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will provide more than $3.1 billion in competitive funding to homeless services organizations across the country for supportive services and housing programs for people experiencing homelessness. This year’s funding opportunity makes available the largest amount of funding under the Continuum of Care program competition in history, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to tackle the nation’s homelessness crisis with the urgency it requires.

DOT Announces Streamlined Funding Application Process for Infrastructure Projects That Reconnect Communities  

July 5, 2023 | Source: DOT 

On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the Department of Transportation is now taking applications for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program, an unprecedented effort to build good transportation infrastructure to reconnect communities to economic opportunities. The streamlined program, which combines two different programs created in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, will make it easier to submit an application and increase opportunity for communities that are seeking funding for projects that address harm from past infrastructure planning decisions, accelerate equitable community revitalization, and improve access to everyday destinations. The funding includes $198 million for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program and $3.155 billion for the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program.

DOI Approves Third Major Offshore Wind Project in U.S. Waters 

July 5, 2023 | Source: DOI 

On Wednesday, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced it has approved the plan for construction and operations of the Ocean Wind 1 project offshore New Jersey. Located about 13 nautical miles southeast of Atlantic City, the project will have an estimated capacity of 1,100 megawatts of clean energy – capable of powering over 380,000 homes – and is expected to create more than 3,000 good-paying jobs through development and a three-year construction cycle.