Environmental

$6 billion White House investment in climate resilience includes hydropower

$6 billion White House investment in climate resilience includes hydropower
(Image credit: Stock)

In coordination with the release of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), U.S. President Biden announced more than $6 billion in investments to make communities more resilient to the impact of climate change, including one hydropower opportunity.

NCA5 assesses changes in the climate, its national and regional impacts, and options for reducing present and future risk. Every region of the country is experiencing the impacts of climate change, but ambitious climate action is under way in every region as well, the report revealed.

Federal, state, local, and Tribal mitigation and adaptation actions have significantly increased, while zero- and low-carbon energy options are becoming more affordable. The report also shows that climate change-related extreme weather events pose a rapidly intensifying threat – one that costs the U.S. at least $150 billion each year and disproportionately affects underserved and overburdened communities.

The more than $6 billion in investments will be used to strengthen America’s aging electric grid infrastructure, reduce flood risk to communities, support conservation efforts and advance environmental justice.

Hydropower was included in efforts to boost climate resilience. The Department of the Interior (DOI) will announce $100 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for water infrastructure upgrades that advance drought resilience in the west. This includes $50 million in awards to improve the reliability of water resources and support ecosystem health in western states and a $50 million funding opportunity for water conservation projects and hydropower upgrades. The specific upgrades were not disclosed.

Other investments announced include:

$3.9 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen and modernize America’s electric grid in the face of more frequent and intense climate impacts to ensure affordable, reliable power to households while supporting meaningful community and labor engagement; investing in the American workforce; and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

$2 billion available through the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience and build community capacity to respond to environmental and climate justice challenges.

$300 million in a second round of funding through the Swift Current Initiative, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to help communities that have been impacted by catastrophic flooding during the 2022-2023 flood season become more resilient to future flood events.

$166 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration and environmental planning needs for the National Park Service over the next nine years. These investments build on an initial $44 million allocated earlier this year for work in fiscal year 2023 and advance the America the Beautiful Initiative to restore and conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030.

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is the most comprehensive federal effort to assess the state of climate science and communicate the impacts of climate change across the U.S., according to a release. For the first time, NCA5 includes a chapter on Economics, which highlights economic impacts and opportunities associated with climate action. NCA5 also includes a new chapter on Social Systems and Justice, which provides insights into how people understand, experience and respond in different ways to climate change.

Key highlights include:

  • The U.S. is taking action on climate change, with greenhouse gas emissions continuing to fall as population and GDP have grown
  • Americans are experiencing increasing risks from extreme events, as total GHG emissions from human activities continue to increase, resulting in rapid warming and other impacts
  • Climate change exacerbates social inequities, with underserved and overburdened communities facing disproportionate risks and impacts from climate change
  • Available mitigation strategies can deliver emissions reductions, but the U.S. must go further and faster to reach net zero
  • Climate action is an opportunity to create a more resilient and just nation, reducing risks to current and future generations