Bill > A1297

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a two-year program to provide grants for the development and promotion of innovative drinking water supply and wastewater infrastructure projects that would improve the quality and functioning of the State's publicly-owned drinking water supply and wastewater systems. Grants would be made available to individuals, businesses, business incubation facilities, not-for-profit corporations, and public and private institutions of higher education to develop and promote innovative technologies that may be used in pilot or demonstration projects at publicly-owned drinking water supply and wastewater systems, where appropriate, throughout the State to improve the quality and functioning of those systems. An upgrade or improvement to existing infrastructure would not qualify for a grant unless it is part of a pilot or demonstration project implementing an innovative new technology. Innovative technologies and the pilot or demonstration projects developed pursuant to this program would: improve the delivery of safe, clean water; improve overall water flow; improve water purification processes; aid in water conservation and energy efficiency efforts; improve system infrastructure; or otherwise assist publicly-owned drinking water supply and wastewater facilities, as applicable, with better, affordable, and cleaner methods to clean, conserve, and deliver water. In addition, consideration would be given to technologies and projects that implement energy efficiency measures or incorporate renewable energy technologies, including implementation of innovative technologies such as in-pipe hydropower, in order to reduce energy consumption and provide long-term sustainability and potential cost savings. The board would determine the total amount of grants funded in each year of the program, and the amount of each grant would be determined by the board based on the proposals for innovative technologies it receives and the number of drinking water supply or wastewater systems at which each innovative technology may be implemented as a pilot or demonstration project. This bill is a "call to action" to form a public-private partnership to help solve one of the most important environmental problems facing the State, i.e., the decay of its critical infrastructure that provides drinking water and treats wastewater for the health and welfare of the State, its citizens, and the environment. The program is intended to assist publicly-owned drinking water supply and wastewater facilities that are thinking about the future and are looking for better, affordable, and cleaner ways to clean, conserve, and deliver water.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Wayne DeAngelo (D)*,  Lou Greenwald (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document