Sec. 2. Findings
291 words·~1 min read·
/bill/116/s/3046/is/section-2A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds that— municipalities face high energy costs to operate and maintain the wastewater treatment facilities of the municipalities; energy intensive operations at wastewater treatment facilities can include aeration, influent pumping, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion, building operations, and other critical components of the waste treatment process; the utility energy costs of a municipality can exceed 30 percent of total energy costs of the municipality; energy costs are part of the calculus in determining ratepayer rates; wastewater treatment facilities that use anaerobic digestion can capture methane for conversion into energy for onsite power production, heating, transportation fuel, export of renewable natural gas or electricity, and other uses; the process described in paragraph
(5)may be enhanced through innovative technologies, such as codigestion of fats, oils and grease, food waste, and other organic waste; all wastewater treatment facilities, regardless of type of treatment or size, can benefit from energy audits and installation of energy efficient components; investment in recovery technologies for use by wastewater treatment facilities may result in— reduced energy costs for the wastewater treatment facility; improved energy resiliency of the wastewater treatment facility; and potential revenue generating streams for the municipality that owns the wastewater treatment facility; many existing Federal programs relating to water infrastructure remain inaccessible because municipality officials and utility managers may not have resources— to upgrade the infrastructure of the wastewater treatment facilities of the municipality for energy efficiency; or to transition wastewater treatment facilities of the municipality towards energy resiliency; and this Act will substantially benefit wastewater treatment facilities in the United States by addressing the gap in funding for wastewater treatment facility projects for large and small municipalities by making loan guarantees and grants available to municipalities to reduce borrowing costs and accelerate water infrastructure investment.