An analysis of recently released 2018 Census estimates of local government spending for municipal water and sewer utilities indicates an historic high annual investment of $130 billion. 2018 spending continued the decade-long slow growth at 3.6% compared to a long-term average annual growth of 4.4%. Revenues grew 6%, exceeding the long-term average of 5.5%. Cumulative
What Happened: The United States Conference of Mayors just released research findings indicating the Great Recession (December 2007-June 2009) caused municipal water and sewer utilities to pare budgets, shift resources to continue service for public health protection, and ultimately stifle up to $105 billion in utility infrastructure investment over more than a decade. Utilities
A review of city utility spending in the pre- and post-Great Recession sheds light on what happens when national economic disruptions occur. This information might be helpful in anticipating impacts from the covid-19 recession. The Great Recession impacted utilities forcing them to tighten budgets in anticipation of high unemployment rates and reduced or lost revenues.
Public acceptance of and demand for renewable energy has made possible non-traditional energy generation and distribution models that further efficiency, diversity and carbon emission reduction preferences of the modern consumer. The hybrid model, for example, might be a mix of solar, wind and battery storage to guarantee reliable electric supply during intermittency periods. Energy Committee
Energy and Commerce Committee Poised to Act on Its Parts of an Infrastructure Package Left to Right: Mayor Brian Wahler,Piscataway Township (NJ);Representative Frank Pallone (NJ- District 6), Chair, House Energy and Commerce Committee. Amid mixed signals on the fate of an agreement between the White House and Congress on an infrastructure plan the
Cities Facing Costly Clean Water Act Mandates Can Use New Tool - May Bring Financial Relief! Congress passed the Integrated Planning bill in late 2018 legislative action; and, it potentially will have a direct financial impact on nearly every person who uses tap water, toilets, showers and other uses that end up in the sewer and wastewater treatment
The Conference of Mayors adopted clean air policies in 2017 and 2018 to support cities transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy and success depends on developing enough renewable power production capacity and renewable energy generation. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that renewables provided 17% of electricity generation in 2016: 20% from nuclear and 63%
Public Law No: 115-244 (09/21/2018) This bill provides FY2019 appropriations for 3 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills, this review focuses on the Department of Energy Appropriations Act, 2019. Read More
Long-term infrastructure investment commitment to clean water and sewer/stormwater management tops $1.99 Trillion from 1993 to 2016 By Rich Anderson Public spending on water and sewer/stormwater management continues to set new nominal dollar highs according to recently released local government Census data for 2016. Overall there was a 4 percent increase in spending from 2015
The parade of natural disasters in 2017, once again, proved that cities, with their expanding infrastructure and growing populations, continue to be vulnerable to acute impacts from drought, earthquakes, flooding, land subsidence, coastal hazards, and wildfire. Separately, any one of these natural forces can have a devastating impact on life, private property, city infrastructure, and
What investments will be needed to rebuild our national water and sewer infrastructure and provide services to a growing and shifting population and an expanding economy? By Richard F. Anderson, Ph.D. Introduction Will a new national infrastructure policy help or hurt city water and sewer services? What is the role of the Federal Government in
By: Rich Anderson Mayor Hogan The City of Aurora (CO) joins with Denver and Lakewood to form one of 381 Metropolitan Regions in the United States. Aurora’s is a major contributor to the metro economy. The US economy added 2.3 million jobs in 2016; and Metro areas generated over 2 million, accounting for
Above l. to r.: Brian Gackstatter, CH2M; Vincent Sapienza, Commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection; Mayor Jill Techel, Mayor of Napa and Co-Chair of the Mayors Water Council; Efrain Rodriguez, Regional Director, Severn Trent Services; Moira Mcdonald, Walton Family Foundation; Ryan Berni, Deputy Mayor of New Orleans; Patrick Schultz, General Manager, Resource Optimization, Veolia
Download: On Task, On Time, On Budget: How Mayors Build, Maintain, and Renew America's Infrastructure
The Mayors Water Council convened their spring 2017 meeting in Santa Barbara, hosted by Mayor Helene Schneider on April 13-14, 2017. Mayor and Water Council Co-Chair Jill Techel led a diverse group of mayors, local and state elected officials and their representatives, staff from regional water control districts and national experts from industry in
