Infrastructure – Page 4

Boise Continues to Lead on Climate

Last week, NewDEAL Leader Boise, ID Mayor Lauren McLean met with President Biden during a visit he made to Boise to tour the National Intermountain Fire Center, which leads wildfire response in the West. Mayor McLean highlighted Boise’s holistic Climate Action Roadmap, which commits the city to 100% renewable energy by 2035, funds electrification of all municipal buildings, and identifies environmental justice, equity, and community health concerns across the city. For more on Boise’s work, take a look at the NewDEAL Forum’s Climate Solutions report, which features Boise as one of its “model cities.”

First in the Nation Heat Mitigation Office

In Phoenix, where rising temperatures and extreme heat due to climate change are threatening the City’s economic vitality and health of its residents, NewDEAL Leader Mayor Kate Gallego this week announced the establishment of a Heat Response & Mitigation Office. The new department, the first of its kind in the nation, will examine scientific ways to address rising temperatures and the serious dangers they can pose to residents. “Already, Phoenix is recognized as a leader in cooling strategies and support for heat vulnerable residents,” Gallego said, “and this investment is reflective of Phoenix’s continued commitment to develop innovative solutions to ensure our city’s health and livability.” Read more about the new office and how Phoenix continues to be a leader in heat mitigation.

New Energy Efficiency Fund in New Jersey

Recently, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed NewDEAL Leader Senator Troy Singleton’s legislation establishing a new energy efficiency fund into law. The bill will use $180 million in American Rescue Plan funding to provide grants to schools and small businesses for the repair and upgrading of central heating/cooling systems, plumbing, and appliances. Senator Singleton said as schools and businesses reopen for in-person service, “there are concerns about whether they have adequate ventilation systems to meet health and safety requirements.” The law will approve applicants for grants by December 1, 2021. Read more.

Expanding Broadband Access in Maryland

Recently, NewDEAL Leader Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson joined other Democratic leaders and the state’s Governor to announce a new Connect Maryland initiative to boost broadband access, using $300 million in American Rescue Plan funds, supplemented with $100 million in state funding. Spending priorities will be set by a bipartisan workgroup of the city, county, and state elected officials. The new initiative aims to achieve the 98% connectivity goal set by legislation sponsored by NewDEAL Leader Delegate Brooke Lierman, which also created a statewide broadband office to develop a plan for the expansion. Read more on how Maryland NewDEALers are working to ensure everyone in their state can get connected, and keep an eye on the NewDEAL Forum Broadband Task Force for continued work on policy guidance to achieve connectivity across the nation.

Closing Colorado’s Digital Divide

This week, NewDEAL Leader Colorado Senator Jeff Bridges’ bill to invest in internet access was signed into law. With the pandemic adding urgency to the necessity for access to high-speed reliable internet to participate in economic activities, education, telehealth, and more, Bridges’ bill provides $75 million to connect unserved and underserved communities, including $20 million specifically set aside for the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. Learn more about how this funding increases equity, and keep an eye out for information on similar topics from the NewDEAL Forum Broadband Task Force.

Expanding Broadband Access in Florida

This week, the Florida Legislature passed the bipartisan 2021 Broadband Internet Infrastructure bill to expand high-speed internet access in rural areas of the state, including NewDEAL Leader Florida Senator Loranne Ausley’s measure to use $1.5 million to develop maps of broadband availability by June 2022. This builds on rural broadband work Ausley started last year while serving in the Florida House, where she co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that created a new Office of Broadband, signed into law in June 2020. Read more about the latest bill here. And keep your eyes open for more from Senator Ausley on broadband, as she co-chairs the forthcoming NewDEAL Forum Broadband Task Force.

Phasing Gasoline Vehicles Out of Washington

The Washington State legislature passed the groundbreaking Clean Cars 2030 bill, championed in the Senate by NewDEAL Leader Washington Senator Marko Liias. The bill requires all passenger vehicles model year 2030 or later to be electric vehicles, the most aggressive state goal in the country, and is the first gasoline phaseout legislation to be passed. Senator Liias noted that the legislation clarifies the transition to electric by creating a timeline and providing tools and guidelines for businesses and consumers alike to have a roadmap for the way forward. Read more about this pioneering bill.

Implementing Broadband Connectivity in Maryland

This week, NewDEAL Leader Maryland Delegate Brooke Lierman’s Digital Connectivity Act of 2021 was signed into law after the Maryland General Assembly approved the bill. As a result, the Office of Statewide Broadband will soon be established and work towards ensuring state residents, including 520,000 households that lack wireless internet access, have access to high-speed, affordable-broadband internet by 2026. Read more about Delegate Lierman’s bill here, and for more from the NewDEAL Forum on policies to help lay the foundation for the effective expansion of broadband access and adoption, check out the NewDEAL Forum Education Policy Group’s report Aligning the Future of Education with Workforce Opportunities.

Housing Program Brings Stability

Taking office just weeks before the pandemic hit, NewDEAL Leader Boise Mayor Lauren McLean had already made affordable housing a top priority. But with COVID exacerbating housing issues and putting more families at risk for homelessness, Mayor McLean worked with city and county partners to recently pass the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to administer grants to help residents cover rent and other living expenses. The program is funded with monies from the U.S. Treasury Department as part of the second COVID relief package. Speaking about possible additional relief from Congress, Mayor McLean told the Well News, “Obviously, the more funds that are made available, the more you can do, and what we’ve been advocating for in the next stimulus is funding that will enable us to secure funds for those experiencing homelessness. If the feds are willing, we’re ready to acquire, rehab or construct new affordable housing in a community that really needs it.” Read more about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and other ideas to address affordable housing in a recent interview Mayor McLean did with Well News.

Texan NewDEALers Lead Recovery Efforts

After the winter storms and amid the resulting energy disaster in Texas, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg have moved quickly to spur community recovery efforts. Johnson, who directed the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund to help with response and recovery efforts in Dallas, just announced the distribution of $500,000 to 25 local organizations. In San Antonio, Nirenberg quickly established the San Antonio Community Pipe Repair Fund, which will pay for emergency repairs in homes. In addition, Nirenberg named a new panel to probe his city’s storm preparedness and increase resilience before the next one. Nirenberg also partnered with local restaurants to distribute 1,000 meals to struggling families.

Boise Continues to Lead on Climate

First in the Nation Heat Mitigation Office

New Energy Efficiency Fund in New Jersey

Expanding Broadband Access in Maryland

Closing Colorado’s Digital Divide

Expanding Broadband Access in Florida

Phasing Gasoline Vehicles Out of Washington

Implementing Broadband Connectivity in Maryland

Housing Program Brings Stability

Texan NewDEALers Lead Recovery Efforts

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