Gov. Scott focuses on water infrastructure developments in Royalton

Michael Bielawski/TNR

DAMS ARE GETTING OLD: Vermont’s water infrastructure is aging, and according to the governor, it’s time to make big investments to keep it working.

At his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott and Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore visited the Royalton Water Treatment Facility project to talk about the importance of sewer and stormwater infrastructure.

The governor said his administration now has a grasp on how much money is coming from ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]. The funds are coming in “five buckets,” as Scott calls it.

“About $250 million for housing, over $200 million to combat climate change, $200 million for water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure projects, $250 for broadband, and over $170 for economic development,” the governor said.

He talked about how making these investments now can result in new investments later.

“Water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure projects can also inject new life into the rural parts of our state. And my administration is committed to making sure these projects, as well as other investments we’re making, benefit all of Vermont’s 14 counties, not just the Northwest part of the state,” Scott said.

He emphasized Vermont’s water infrastructure is growing old.

“Much of our infrastructure is decades, sometimes over a century old, and the investments we’re making this year will help ensure these commitments are sustainable in the future,” he said.

Moore also emphasized the importance of updating water infrastructure.

“From turning on the tap in the morning to take a shower, to preparing the food we eat, to the proper drainage of our roads and parking lots on rainy days, and to having sufficient clean water and wastewater treatment capacity to support local businesses and institutions — it is all water infrastructure!” she exclaimed.

Moore also talked about the demands currently facing the state in terms of needed improvements.

“We have estimated that across Vermont there is more than $2 billion of investment needed in drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems over the next 10 years, to both refurbish existing systems and to prepare this essential infrastructure for increasingly disruptive and potentially devastating effects of climate change,” she said.

A report by the Green Energy Times breaks down where the $200 million in climate mitigation is going.

“The Governor’s climate economy proposals include $25 million to expand Vermont’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure; $21 million for weatherization and energy efficiency; $29 million to support investments in community resilience and make it possible for more Vermonters to replace fossil-fuel-based heating and cooling systems with all-electric or modern wood systems over the next four years. An additional $100 million will support implementation of the climate action plan under development by Vermont’s Climate Council.”

The governor was also asked at the conference what the biggest challenge is with this $200 million for green energy.

“Well, I think in some respects it’s the grid, having the capacity in the grid to go electric and we can’t — excuse the pun — flip the switch and make it happen tomorrow without the grid to supply the power that we’re going to need,” he said. “We’re already seeing some of the impacts of that when we think about, I think the biggest transformation, change that we’re going to make any this is something that I’m excited about, it’s the transformation to electric vehicles.”

Scott said that manufacturers are committed to making the transformation to electric vehicles. The new technology is currently facing cost challenges with new EVs continuing to start at nearly $30,000 while continuing to rely on federal subsidies and state subsidies.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Vermont a “C” grade overall in its 2021 infrastructure report card. For wastewater, the report states, “Since 2016, Vermont has received, on average, nearly $20 million annually to finance wastewater projects through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program. With IIJA funding, the state is set to receive roughly double that for the next 5 years.”

For its drinking water portion, it states, “Vermont reports a $643 million drinking water investment gap. The IIJA [e Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act] provides $55 billion to upgrade the nation’s water infrastructure.”

Vermont’s aging dams are not doing so well. It states that there are “61 high hazard potential dams. The IIJA provides $585 million for high hazard dam rehabilitation and $148 million for dam safety programs.”

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.

Images courtesy of Office of the Vermont Governor and Michael Bielawski/TNR

2 thoughts on “Gov. Scott focuses on water infrastructure developments in Royalton

  1. More Biden Bucks ! Yippee! Unfortunately, the country is insolvent so these digits are no more than just digits. So Phil can run around with empty promises based on vapor paper, but great photo opps! The end of the fiat system is here and they all know it. The only thing keeping the system alive is people actually “believe” our currency is worth something. Dominos falling – catch that falling knife.

  2. $250 Million should build 1,000 homes at an average cost of $250,000 each (“affordable” by todays standards). Mind you that these 1,000 homes should be free to the new occupants. If instead, they use the money to do something reasonable, like pay for the 20% down payment on such an “affordable” new home, we could get 5,000 Vermonters into *brand new* affordable and efficient homes.

    In 2021, there were 1,487 building permits issued, so if they use the money for the second option proposed above and spread out over the next 5 years, we should see an increase of about 1,000 building permits per year.

    I’m not much of a betting man, but I would lay odds that hardly one penny of that money will reach the people who need it and there will be a negligible increase in building permits: The majority will end up in the back pockets of bureaucrats along the way.

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