[미국] EPA, 물 기반 시설 프로젝트에 10억 달러 지원


미국 환경 보호국(EPA)은 새로운 수자원 재정 및 혁신법(WIFIA , Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) 프로그램에 따라 수자원 기반 시설 프로젝트를 위해 약 10억 달러를 지원할 것이라고 발표했다. EPA의 WIFIA 프로그램은 장기적이고 저비용의 신용지원을 신뢰할 수 있는 프로젝트에 대한 직접차관 및 대출담보 형태로 제공한다.

WIFIA는 주 회전 자금(State Revolving Funds)과 채권 시장뿐만 아니라 대규모 인프라 프로젝트 자금 조달을 위한 선택지를 제공하기도 한다. 주정부, 지방 정부 및 부족 정부 등이 WIFIA를 이용할 수 있다.

EPA의 관리자 Gina McCarthy는 "WIFIA 프로그램을 통해 우리나라의 노후화 된 수자원 기반을 현대화하는 데 커다란 진전을 이룩했으며, 앞으로도 대규모 인프라 프로젝트 건설을 위해 지역 사회에 저금리 기금을 수십억 달러에 제공 할 수 있는 기회를 제공하여 국민의 공중 보건 및 수자원 확보에 도움이 되는 투자를 가속화 할 것이다"고 말했다.

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EPA announces $1B in loans available for water infrastructure projects

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $1 billion in credit assistance for water infrastructure projects under the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

EPA's WIFIA program will provide long-term, low-cost credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan guarantees to creditworthy water projects. WIFIA provides another option for financing large infrastructure projects -- generally at least $20 million -- in addition to the State Revolving Funds and bond market. WIFIA is available to state, local, and tribal governments; private entities; partnerships; and State Revolving Fund programs. EPA estimates that funds appropriated to the WIFIA program can be leveraged at a ratio greater than 50 to one, which means the $17 million program budget could allow EPA to make approximately $1 billion in loans and stimulate about $2 billion in total infrastructure investment.

"The launch of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program marks a huge step forward for modernizing our nation's aging water infrastructure," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "WIFIA gives us a new opportunity to provide billions of dollars in low-interest loans to communities to build large infrastructure projects, significantly accelerating investments that benefit our nation's public health and water security for generations to come."

 Some of the projects that WIFIA enables EPA to provide assistance for include:
- drinking water treatment and distribution projects
- wastewater conveyance and treatment projects
- enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities
- desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling projects
- drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects

EPA will evaluate projects using criteria such as the extent to which the project is nationally or regionally significant, helps maintain or protect public health or the environment, protects against extreme weather, and serves regions with significant water resource challenges. EPA will make selections on a competitive basis.

EPA estimates that the U.S. needs about $660 billion in investments for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure over the next 20 years. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/wifia

[출처 = Water World / 2017년 1월 10일]

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