March 30, 2022 presentation hosted by the Alliance for Electric School Buses, WRI's Electric School Bus Initiative and Chispa.
For more information, visit https://www.wri.org/events/2022/3/electric-school-buses-stories-field
U.S. Department of State, Office of International Information Programs Confer...Alliance To Save Energy
In his presentation, Castelli addresses The Role of Energy Efficiency in Energy Security and Climate Change. Taking into consideration the global energy concerns and the increasinly volatile geopolitical landscape, there is a great need to improve energy intensity across the world. Energy efficiency - which is at the nexus of economic objectives, energy security & foreign policy objectives, and environmental objectives - offers a great opportunity to achieve this. Castelli discussed the roles that the public and private sectors must play to sieze this potential in Russia and former Soviet Union countries. In this area of the world, he said, energy efficiency can significantly reduce consumer energy consumption, particularly in home heating.
Case Study: Blockchain as the Foundation of Alectra's Grid Exchange Transacti...Jill Kirkpatrick
Alectra Utilities is leveraging blockchain technologies to develop GridExchange, a platform for transactive energy that allows its users to create new energy markets, as well as bidding into existing ones.
Behavior changes are set based on homeowner preferences for use of their distributed energy resources. The platform also creates statistics on customer energy usage and validates participation in these energy markets, confirming settlement when compensation for energy services has been paid.
As a result, users are empowered with greater choices, control and autonomy to buy, consume, and sell energy, and the utility improves reliability and forecasting by gaining visibility of energy usage patterns and changing behaviors.
The pitch rests on the clear need for an new means of financing small-scale producers who are vital for sustainable landscape management but are often excluded from formal financial systems. The proposed investment of half a million dollars, would allow the platform to vastly improve its capacity to provide investors and donors with defined environmental and financial returns.
by GreenFi
Presentation given on May 2nd, 2009 to the Mossy Creek Community in Jefferson County, TN. Basic overview of wind energy technologies and applications suitable for the county.
March 30, 2022 presentation hosted by the Alliance for Electric School Buses, WRI's Electric School Bus Initiative and Chispa.
For more information, visit https://www.wri.org/events/2022/3/electric-school-buses-stories-field
U.S. Department of State, Office of International Information Programs Confer...Alliance To Save Energy
In his presentation, Castelli addresses The Role of Energy Efficiency in Energy Security and Climate Change. Taking into consideration the global energy concerns and the increasinly volatile geopolitical landscape, there is a great need to improve energy intensity across the world. Energy efficiency - which is at the nexus of economic objectives, energy security & foreign policy objectives, and environmental objectives - offers a great opportunity to achieve this. Castelli discussed the roles that the public and private sectors must play to sieze this potential in Russia and former Soviet Union countries. In this area of the world, he said, energy efficiency can significantly reduce consumer energy consumption, particularly in home heating.
Case Study: Blockchain as the Foundation of Alectra's Grid Exchange Transacti...Jill Kirkpatrick
Alectra Utilities is leveraging blockchain technologies to develop GridExchange, a platform for transactive energy that allows its users to create new energy markets, as well as bidding into existing ones.
Behavior changes are set based on homeowner preferences for use of their distributed energy resources. The platform also creates statistics on customer energy usage and validates participation in these energy markets, confirming settlement when compensation for energy services has been paid.
As a result, users are empowered with greater choices, control and autonomy to buy, consume, and sell energy, and the utility improves reliability and forecasting by gaining visibility of energy usage patterns and changing behaviors.
The pitch rests on the clear need for an new means of financing small-scale producers who are vital for sustainable landscape management but are often excluded from formal financial systems. The proposed investment of half a million dollars, would allow the platform to vastly improve its capacity to provide investors and donors with defined environmental and financial returns.
by GreenFi
Presentation given on May 2nd, 2009 to the Mossy Creek Community in Jefferson County, TN. Basic overview of wind energy technologies and applications suitable for the county.
Grey and Green Infrastructure Benefit Cost, Return on Investment Analysis for...Robert Muir
This presentation was made to the Southern Ontario Municipal Stormwater Discussion Group on September 27, 2018 in Brantford, Ontario. It describes benefit-cost analysis to show the return on investment (ROI) of infrastructure improvements to reduce flood damages (insured and total), and to achieve other benefits including erosion mitigation and water quality improvements. Earlier benefit cost analyses for projects ranging from the Winnipeg floodway to the Stratford, Ontario storm system master plan are shown. The benefit-cost ratio of an Ontario flood control study is shown including a comparison of grey and green infrastructure cost effectiveness - analysis shows the grey infrastructure solution can meet the current Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund (DMAF) benefit/cost threshold of 2:1 required to be eligible for federal funding. In addition, city-wide analysis of grey infrastructure storm and sanitary system upgrades and green infrastructure / low impact development infrastructure strategies is summarized.
Results show that the grey infrastructure solution can meet the DMAF benefit/cost threshold of 2:1 but that the benefit/cost of green infrastructure is substantially below it considering flood reduction benefits. When other benefits are considered, and targeted implementation of green infrastructure is considered (e.g., representing 25% of the urban area with limited overland drainage design standards) and considering additional benefits including a substantial 'willingness to pay' estimate for water quality improvements, costs continue to exceed benefits. The insurance industry and some affiliated research groups have suggested that natural infrastructure or green infrastructure should be considered to improve climate resilience and reduce flood damages - this analysis would suggest that approach is misguided and could misdirect scare resources to ineffective strategies.
Clean Air Partnership Green Infrastructure CAC Meeting - Don Mills Channel Fl...Robert Muir
Presentation on the application of Cost Benefit Analysis to water resources engineering projects, including for municipal flood control as part of Municipal Class Environmental Assessment infrastructure projects and city-wide programs. Evaluation of green infrastructure (Low Impact Development (LID)) capital costs and grey infrastructure costs.
Community Microgrids: Savings and resilience for local governments (1/25/18)Clean Coalition
The Clean Coalition was a partner organization for the The Promise of Microgrids conference, which took place on January 25, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. Frank Wasko, Program Director for the Clean Coalition, participated on a panel discussing local government microgrids.
On July 16, 2021 ICLR conducted a Friday Forum webinar titled 'Edmonton's approach to stormwater flood management', led by Susan Ancel, Director of One Water Planning for EPCOR Water Services in Edmonton, Alberta. EPCOR has developed a $1.6 billion Stormwater Integrated Resource Plan (SIRP) to mitigate the impacts of flooding in the community. SIRP envisions all stakeholders – citizens, businesses, industry, the City of Edmonton and EPCOR working together to build a flood-resilient future. The goal is to Slow, Move, Secure, Predict and Respond to flooding events to prevent or reduce the impact. EPCOR’s planned flood mitigations projects will take 20 years to complete. The types of projects that are included in SIRP include dry ponds, low impact development, tunnels, combined sewer separation, outfall control gates, inflow/infiltration reduction, building flood proofing, increased sensors and automatic controls and emergency response equipment. The plan was developed through consultation with Climate Change Adaptation, Insurance and Financial sector groups across North America.
Susan Ancel is the Director of One Water Planning for EPCOR Water Services in Edmonton, Alberta. In her prior role, she was Director of Stormwater Strategies, where she was responsible for developing an Integrated Resource Plan for flood mitigation that considered capital and operational risk mitigation planning, as well as the interrelationships between utilities, insurance, disaster response agencies and the public. Prior to her Stormwater Strategies role she was the Director of Water Distribution and Transmission for EPCOR. Susan is a Mechanical engineer with over 30 years’ experience with the municipal utility sector. She has also served on numerous industry committees including the Board of Directors for the Geospatial Information Technology Association (GITA) from 2001 to 2007 and was President of GITA in 2006. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Canadian Water Network.
An Economic Analysis of Green and Grey Infrastructure - TRIECA Conference 2019Robert Muir
TRIECA Conference , 2019, An Economic Analysis of Green and Grey Infrastructure Benefits and Costs, Robert J. Muir, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., Manager, Stormwater, City of Markham, Fabian Papa, M.A.Sc., MBA, P.Eng., President, FP&P HydraTek
Presentation reviews regulations on policies on infrastructure cost, provides a history of cost benefit analysis, reviews Ontario green infrastructure policy and cost considerations, identifies research gaps in cost benefit analysis, evaluates the costs and benefits of grey, green and blended grey and green infrastructure strategies considering full lifecycle costs and system-wide implementation in the City of Markham. Analysis is based on this upcoming WEAO paper https://www.cityfloodmap.com/2019/03/an-economic-analysis-of-green-v-grey.html
An Economic Analysis of Green v. Grey InfrastructureRobert Muir
Water Environment Association of Ontario 2019 Annual Conference, Toronto, Ontario, April 16, 2019
by Robert J. Muir, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., Fabian Papa, MBA, P.Eng.
Presentation reviews policies and regulations in Ontario promoting cost-effective infrastructure servicing. Summarizes the assessment of cost effectiveness of grey, green and blended green and grey flood damage reduction strategies on a system-wide basis. Identifies triple-bottom-line benefits of erosion mitigation reduction and water quality improvements due to green infrastructure implementation. Details of the analysis are presented in the proceedings paper also included here: https://www.cityfloodmap.com/2019/03/an-economic-analysis-of-green-v-grey.html
The analysis indicates benefit cost ratios for flood control and other benefits and assesses funding impacts on stormwater utility fees in a case study in the City of Markham. Markham's current Flood Control Program consisting largely of grey infrastructure is shown to be cost-effective with benefits exceeding costs by 2 to 1 based on insured loss deferral (and a higher ratio considering higher total losses). Green infrastructure is shown to be less cost-effective at delivering flood control and the cost for achieving water quality benefits exceeds the estimated willingness to pay 'value' of those benefits. The analysis suggests that a critical, strategic evaluation of green infrastructure implementation targets is required prior to system-wide implementation, given cost concerns.
Evaluating the Impact of Community Based DRR ProjectsOECD Governance
Investing in infrastructure: Costs, benefits and effectiveness of disaster risk reduction measures.
Presentation made by:
Jody Springer
Data Analytics
Hazard Mitigation Assistance, Mitigation Division
US Federal Emergency Management Agency
BCSDZ West Coast USA Experience- Existing BuildingsErikPoint1990
Hannington Mubaiwa is a green buildings expert who worked to create a powerpoint for the The Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) Green Building Conference 2013.
Enhancing The Regulatory Framework for Non Conventional Geothermal ResourcesFernando Penarroyo
This paper focuses on supportive legal and regulatory frameworks, subsidy schemes and other incentive programs that will shift the current geothermal development strategies in order to revitalize non-conventional development.
Similar to Federal Dollars for Improving Energy Infrastructure Resilience (NASEO 2019) (20)
ICF’s technical experts are supporting various clients in quickly adapting different types and sizes of meetings, workshops, and conferences to virtual formats. We’re designing and facilitating collaboration sessions with localities such as Prince Edward Island and Fairfax County; converting international workshops into web- based trainings for USAID; and conducting co-creation sessions through our Spark Labs offering.
ICF supports organizations through the entire meeting process, from selecting the right platforms and tools to designing remote-friendly agendas and providing effective meeting facilitation.
Planning & Designing for Accessible ExperiencesICF
In recent years, there has been a growing need for companies to design digital experiences that are accessible and inclusive for all audiences. Join ICF Next Partners Anne Catherine Feeney and Jane Motz Hayes for pro advice on how to exceed project expectations while navigating accessibility from the very start. After this discussion, you will be able to:
1. Understand accessibility and inclusivity.
2. Navigate guidelines.
3. Design content.
4. Develop and test effectively.
In this interview, Sue Southon discusses her IEDC presentation designed to help state and local governments operationalize a CDBG-CV program in 45 days.
Brooke Shelley's 2019 AEA presentation about the importance of collaboration in creating effective program evaluations that help ensure project success.
How one team unlocked a cultural experience that created a movementICF
Creating a shared cultural experience can help engage your brand's audiences in a meaningful way. Find out firsthand how the Minnesota Wild inspired its fan base to actively participate in a new tradition, Our Ice.
Assessing the Impact of Mentoring: Lessons Learned from a Research Study in W...ICF
Samantha Spinney, Ph.D., Manager, Child Welfare & Education, ICF
Understand the impact mentoring has on students' behavioral engagement, academic achievement, and non-cognitive skill outcomes and learn best practices for designing and implementing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in a school setting.
Learn more: https://www.icf.com/
Edward Shelswell-White, Principal Airport Customer Strategy and Air Service Development, ICF
ACI 10th Annual Airport Economics and Finance Conference and Exhibition
Learn how Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) increased passenger growth with the Air Service Development (ASD) 2.0 approach from ICF. By prioritizing the number of airline routes over capacity, ISP became the number one U.S. airport for domestic seat and passenger growth.
Learn more: https://www.icf.com/
January 25-26, 2017
Cancun, Mexico
ICF delivered a presentation at the MRO Latin America Conference in Cancun, Mexico.
The presentation provides a forecast for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry and highlights trends in aircraft operations.
At the 2016 Aviation Week MRO Europe conference on October 18-20 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, ICF's Jonathan Berger presented "MRO Market Update & Industry Trends." Download his presentation to learn about the MRO forecast and aircraft technology trends in Europe.
For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/2dPaEtb
Presented at the Emergency Services Show in Birmingham, UK on the 21st September 2016. This presentation focuses on findings from the evaluation of the Winter Pressures pilot and highlights the work the fire service is doing as a health asset.
Railway developers cannot control an agency’s environmental review process. However, it can take steps to smooth the NEPA process and increase the likelihood of success.
This infographic reviews the three fundamentals for navigating through the NEPA Process with the Surface Transportation board.
For more information, click here (http://bit.ly/2bhmCHO)
Passenger Analytics: A Better Way to Manage AirportsICF
Through passenger analytics, airports can improve their terminal efficiency for all users, at all levels, for everyone's benefit.
This infographic overviews the three steps to performance optimization through passenger analytics. Also included, are real world examples of how these steps have been applied in airports.
For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/2bfZDPc
Latin American MRO Market Update & Industry Trends ICF
At the 2016 ALTA CCMA & Aircraft MRO Conference on May 15-18 in Puerto Rico, ICF's Jonathan Berger presented "MRO Market Update & Industry Trends." Download his presentation to learn how forward-looking airline and MRO leadership is gaining a competitive edge in Latin America.
For more info: http://bit.ly/1UaAtgf
General International Trends and Efforts in Coping with Climate ChangeICF
Renato Roldao, ICF’s Carbon Trading and Climate Change expert, addresses supporting the Design and Implementation of Emissions Trading Systems in China. Roldao examines the international as well as the domestic context for climate change programs.
http://bit.ly/1sPPmPl
ICF MRO Market Forecast & Trends – Asia Pacific March 9-10, 2016 Airline E&M:...ICF
ICF International's Jonathan Berger delivered a presentation at the Airline E&M: China & East Asia conference in Hong Kong, China on March 9-10, 2016. The presentation provides a forecast for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry and highlights trends in aircraft, operations. See appendix for acronyms.
For more information: http://bit.ly/1Y42p8U
Originally shared at the Aircraft Maintenance Russia and CIS 2013 in Moscow, Russia, Jonathan Berger provides a global forecast for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Topics include:
Outsourcing
Changing Role of the OEM
Next Generation MRO IT
Regional Jet OEM Dynamics
Impact of Airline Mergers
To learn more, visit: http://www.icfi.com/markets/aviation/maintenance-repair-and-overhaul
What is the point of small housing associations.pptxPaul Smith
Given the small scale of housing associations and their relative high cost per home what is the point of them and how do we justify their continued existance
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
3. 3DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
Pre-disaster Mitigation Grants (PDM)
Public Assistance (PA)
Eligible Utilities (Sub Recipients)
Power Generation
Transmission and Distribution Systems (Substations,
Overhead and Underground Powerlines, Solar Systems,
Wind Turbines)
Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution
Sewage Collection Systems and Treatment Plants
Communication Systems
4. 4DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Housing and Urban Development
Community Development Block Grant
Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)
Community Development Block Grant-
Mitigation (CDBG-MIT)
CDBG-MIT funding was released in August
2019
Eligible activities include housing,
infrastructure and economic
revitalization
Energy resilience and infrastructure
repair
5. 5DISASTER MANAGEMENT
FEMA, CDBG and the Recovery
Continuum
Preparedness
and Mitigation
(ongoing)
Short Term
(days)
Intermediate
(Weeks—Months)
Long-Term
(Years)
ScopeandScaleof
DisasterandRecovery
Disaster
FEMA PA
CDBG-DR
CDBG-MIT
FEMA PDM
Adapted from the National Disaster Recovery Framework, DHS, 2016
6. 6DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Types of Funded Activities
FEMA PDM
• Utility protection and
infrastructure retrofit
• Resiliency studies
and planning
FEMA PA
• Emergency
Preparations
• Emergency
Restorations
• Permanent Repairs
• Codes and Standards
Development
• Mitigation activities
for hardening
systems
CDBG-DR and MIT
• Repair and update
electrical grid
• Solarization
• Energy resilience
investments
• Mitigation activities
for hardening
systems
7. 7DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Disaster Recovery
Reform Act of 2018
Section 1205: Expands the use HMGP PDM Grants
to be used for wildfire and windstorm mitigation
activities
Section 1206: Authorizes assistance for building and
construction codes implementation/enforcement
Section 1208: Directs FEMA to develop guidance
and training for state and local governments, first
responders and utility companies on prioritizing
services in the event of a disaster.
Section 1234: Creates the Building Resilient
Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program
8. 8DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Successful Examples: FEMA Funding
BRUNSWICK ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP
COOPERATIVE, NORTH CAROLINA
ICF developed a conclusive model that
demonstrated the cost effectiveness of a
hazard mitigation project to bury the
overhead power lines using Section 406
funding.
Benefits included minimizing the risk of
damages to the electrical lines and
reducing the risk of electrical service
interruption from future events.
PSEG LONG ISLAND / LONG ISLAND POWER
AUTHORITY, NEW YORK
ICF serves as Project Manager for PA’s recovery
and storm hardening project. This project is a $1.4
bn grant with $729 million for hazard mitigation.
The goal of the mitigation project to storm harden
1,025 miles of the vulnerable mainline overhead
distribution system is to achieve a 20% reduction
of loss services and a 29% reduction in physical
damages resulting from future events
9. 9DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Property Visits
& Data
Collection
Techno-
Economic
Feasibility
Analysis of
Property
Portfolio
Validate Pilot
Sites & Tailor
Approach with
Stakeholders
Draft
Technical &
Economic
Specifications
for Pilots
Provide
Guidance
Related to
HUD
Environmental
Reviews
ICF Technical Assistance for Potential Solar + Storage
Resiliency Pilots at Puerto Rico Public Housing
Introduction of presenter
This will be a very brief overview of the disaster recovery process, funding sources available and types of programs they cover to make our country’s energy infrastructure more resilient to future disasters
There are lots of federal agencies that fund infrastructure resiliency improvements and projects following disasters, including (but not limited to) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the US Army Corps of Engineers. We will focus on the two largest federal agencies involved in disaster recovery; FEMA and HUD with an emphasis on FEMA.
PDM grants are awarded annually on a competitive basis and can be made to States, US Territories, Federally-recognized tribes, and local governments. It requires an application process that requires the grantee to complete hazard mitigation planning. Being replaced by Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) program
PA is made available after Presidentially declared disaster to states and then distributed to state agencies, local governments, schools, public facilities, hospitals to reimburse for disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures as well as repairs and mitigation of public infrastructure assets.
Local governments include
Counties and Parishes
Municipalities, Cities, Borough, and Townships
Local Public Authorities
Intrastate Districts
Council of Governments (regardless of whether incorporated as nonprofit corporations under State law)
Regional and Intrastate Government Entities
Agencies or Instrumentalities of Local Government
State – Recognized Tribes
Special District Established Under State Law
Eligible nonprofits: Private Non-Profit (PNP)
Municipal Utilities
Electric Cooperatives
Need to mention that FEMA funding is issued through the Recipient (State) and flowed down to Sub-recipient (utilities).
Once obligated by FEMA based on eligibility, for project that money is sent to sub-recipient
Made as special appropriation by Congress after presidential disaster declaration
Funds States, U.S. Territories, Federally-recognized tribes, local communities, nonprofits.
Although administered by HUD, CDBG Disaster Recovery and CDBG-Mitigation aren’t just housing programs.
CDBG-DR funding can be used for infrastructure investments including energy investments.
CDBG-Mitigation or CDBG-MIT funding is a new type of CDBG-DR funding and was made as a one time appropriation by Congress funding following the 2017 disasters specifically for mitigation investments. The total appropriation is $15,934,516,000 and made to states and localities that had major disasters in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
There is a bipartisan bill active right now to make the CDBG-DR program a standing program so that funding is released in predictable way following major disaster events rather than by special appropriation.
This visual shows how these funding sources are utilized at different points in the “recovery continuum”
FEMA PA provides assistance immediately following a disaster and on-going through recovery
CDBG-DR provides permanent, long-term recovery after a disaster and typically it takes at least a year after a disaster before funding begins to flow from CDBG-DR.
While FEMA PA and CDBG-DR emphasize resilience and mitigation, PDM grants and CDBG-MIT grants are directly meant to address ongoing needs to mitigate the possible effects of a disaster and make communities and infrastructure more resilient. Mitigation is the cornerstone of how we create a true culture of preparedness and investing in mitigation before the next disaster is the first step in building a more resilient nation.
Here are some but not all of the types of projects that each of these funding sources can fund.
While FEMA funding has a history of being used for energy infrastructure, use of CDBG for these purposes is fairly new and evolving.
After Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey used $200 million of its CDBG-DR funding for an Energy Resilience Bank that supported the development of distributed energy resources at critical facilities throughout the state that will enable them to remain operational during future outages. Many hospitals applied to the program.
In the CDBG-MIT funding, $2 billion has been specifically allocated for grid repairs in PR. And all CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT grantees can choose to make energy resilience investments with their DR dollars.
In 2018 Congress passed a law to reform disaster recovery activities by the federal government and build an increasing focus on resiliency. A few sections directly relate to increasing utility resiliency.
Expands Eligible Wildfire Activities (Section 1205): Authorizes FEMA to provide assistance under its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Pre-Disaster Mitigation program for activities related to wildfire and windstorm disaster mitigation. These activities range from reseeding damaged groundcover with native species, to installing utility poles that are resilient to extreme winds.
Code Implementation and Enforcement (Section 1206): Authorizes FEMA to provide assistance to state and local governments for building code and floodplain management ordinance administration and enforcement.
Prioritization of Facilities (Section 1208): Requires FEMA to develop guidance and annual training for state, local, tribal and territorial governments, first responders and utility companies. The guidance will highlight the prioritization of power restoration for hospitals and nursing homes and the need to coordinate response plans before power outages occur.
IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
Guidance released on August 22, 2019.
National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation (Section 1234): Authorizes the National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Mitigation fund, which will be funded through the Disaster Relief Fund as a six percent set aside from estimated disaster grant expenditures. This allows for a greater investment in mitigation before a disaster. This new program is named Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC).
Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge and strong winds severely damaged LIPA’s infrastructure throughout Long Island. More than 90% of customers reported power outages. DMS is providing Program Management Consulting Services for FEMA and CDBG compliance, to assist PSEGLI in implementing their recovery efforts. DMS is integrating PSEGLI’s internal management with other entities involved in the project, to fulfill all objectives according to the established guidelines of the grant. As always, DMS is focused on maximizing available funding, while achieving FEMA’s grant requirements. The goal of the mitigation project to storm harden 1,025 miles of the mainline overhead distribution system consisting of 320 most vulnerable circuits is to achieve a 20% reduction of loss services and a 29% reduction in physical damages resulting from future events. In addition, installing 900 Automatic Sectionalizing Units (Switches) that will reduce outages and increase reliability throughout Long Island NY.
ICF is providing technical assistance to the Puerto Rico Department of Housing on how to solarize public housing that can in turn serve as power oases and remain online during disaster events. The project itself will be funded with HUD CDBG-DR funding.
This is the process we are using to provide technical assistance