Water and wastewater projects that address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative activities are being sought for funding from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. These four categories of projects are collectively referred to as the Green Project Reserve or �green projects.� Guidance regarding Green Project Reserve eligibility has been provided by EPA."Green" parking lot, Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute
Green infrastructure projects manage wet weather flows and restore natural hydrology by infiltrating, evapotranspiring, and harvesting and using stormwater. A few examples of qualifying projects are bioretention basins to control stormwater, permeable pavement, green roofs, and establishment or restoration of permanent riparian buffers. For more information, visit EPA's Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure.
Water efficiency projects involve water conservation and reuse efforts, as well as water loss reduction and prevention. Examples include installing water meters in previously unmetered areas, replacing or upgrading existing meters with automatic reading systems, retrofitting or replacing irrigation systems (landscaping and agricultural) with more efficient systems, and replacing water distribution lines to correct quantifiable water losses.
Energy efficiency projects produce or utilize renewable energy, use improved technologies and practices to reduce energy consumption or use energy in a more efficient way. Eligible projects include using solar, geothermal, micro-hydroelectric, or biogas to heat or power components of the utility, energy efficient retrofits, upgrades or new pumping systems (including installing variable frequency drives), and cost effectively eliminating pumps or pumping stations.
Environmentally innovative projects are those that demonstrate new or innovative approaches to delivering services or managing water resources in a more sustainable manner. Constructed wetlands and construction of LEED certified buildings, provided the building is eligible for SRF funding are examples of projects that meet this criteria.
Certain project types require that business cases be developed to document the anticipated �green� benefits of a project. Business cases must be posted on the DENR website. Information regarding business case development is available in the EPA guidance regarding Green Project Reserve eligibility.
Principal forgiveness of SRF loans can be awarded to for projects that meet the minimum established rates for residential users. For water projects, a municipality or sanitary district must have rates of at least $30 per month based on 5,000 gallons usage, and other recipients must have rates of at least $55 per month based on 7,000 gallons usage. For wastewater projects, a municipality or sanitary district must have rates of at least $30 per month, and other recipients must have rates of at least $40 per month, both based on 5,000 gallons usage. Green projects do not automatically qualify for loan principal forgiveness.
The following table provides a summary of the business cases that have been prepared to demonstrate Green Project Reserve eligibility. Links are provided in the table to view to each business case.
| Green Project Reserve Business Cases | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loan Recipient | Green Project Reserve Category | Loan Amount | Principal Forgiveness Amount | Award Date |
| Gayville | Water Efficiency - Line replacement to correct water loss | $900,000 | $480,000 | Nov. 30, 2010 |
| Hoven | Water Efficiency - Line replacement to correct water loss | $750,000 | $750,000 | Sept. 24, 2010 |
| McLaughlin | Water Efficiency - Line replacement to correct water loss | $4,151,050 | $3,180,050 | June 24, 2011 |
| Montrose | Water Efficiency - Line replacement to correct water loss | $893,000 | $593,000 | March 25, 2011 |
| Yankton | Energy Efficiency - Elimination of a lift station and use of variable frequency drives | $3,330,000 | 0 | March 30, 2012 |
| Custer | Water Efficiency - Replacement of aerators | $1,633,000 | 0 | June 29, 2012 |