Stacked Incentives: Co-Funding Water Customer Incentive Programs
Stacked Incentives: Co-Funding Water Customer Incentive Programs
Authored by: Sarah Diringer and Morgan Shimabuku
Water utilities throughout the United States offer customer incentives to motivate action and foster engagement with their customers. Stacked incentives are customer incentive programs that are co-funded by two or more separate entities to motivate voluntary action on public or private property. Pacific Institute's report defines stacked incentives, highlights successful examples throughout the United States, and identifies best practices for water utilities and other organizations to collaborate on these programs.
Click the link below to download the report.
Putting Green to Work
Putting Green to Work
“We are in dire need of a new approach to investing in America’s clean water and drinking water infrastructure”. American Rivers 2011 finds that need for funding for “green” projects is far greater than the 20% provided for this effort. States have substantial lists of green projects that lack funding. Within the overall category of “green” we identified a group of projects providing a comprehensive set of environmental and economic benefits. Model states (New York and Maryland) shall be studied by others. States must act quickly to remove statutes and regulations to pursue integrated approaches to bright green infrastructure, and the benefits wished to be seen must be written into project evaluation criteria. Read more from Putting Green to Work: Economic Recovery Investments for Clean and Reliable Water.
South Carolina CWSRF Priority Ranking System
South Carolina CWSRF Priority Ranking System
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is the designated state agency to apply for and administer the capitalization grant for South Carolina’s CWSRF. The South Carolina Budget and Control Board (BCB) Office of Local Governments conducts financial functions of the CWSRF, establishes financial policies and executes loans to project sponsors. DHEC and the BCB distribute funds through low-interest loans and principal forgiveness loans. The following priority ranking system shares the first question that DHEC will ask: “how will the project help enhance water quality?” followed by everything else you’ll need to know about the SCCWSRF. EPA has identified seven priority watersheds in South Carolina. Both EPA and DHEC will prioritize the use of discretionary resources in these areas: Saluda, Middle Savannah, Black Creek, Sewee-Santee, May River, Okatie River, and Lower Edisto. The Priority Ranking Criteria is split into sections that show the state’s and nation’s priorities (Will the project address a water quality impairment of a waterbody that is identified on the current 303(d) list?)
South Carolina GPR Guidance
South Carolina GPR Guidance
Projects that are not considered “categorical” may still qualify for the GPR. Such “business case” projects must be evaluated for their eligibility within one of the four targeted types of GPR eligible projects based upon a business case argument. The business case should provide a cost/benefit analysis, estimated project life and payback period, supporting calculations, and any supporting documentation. See the following excerpt from EPA’s GPR guidance to learn more about how to present a business case for a potential SRF project. Business cases will be approved by the State, required as long as “green projects” are a priority with the EPA. An approved business case must be included in the State’s project files (as of 2013) and contain clear documentation that the project achieves identifiable and substantial benefits. The following sections provide guidelines for business case development.
Oklahoma GPR Checklist
Oklahoma GPR Checklist
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program’s GPR checklist is a tool to aid loan applicants and consultants in determining the green components of any given project, identifying both green performance targets and submittal materials that will be used for the implementation of the green components. It is also a tool to aid OWRB staff in tracking the implementation of the GPR throughout Oklahoma. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain the necessary approvals and permits, and to properly design, build and effectively operate and maintain the proposed facilities covered in the Engineering Report (ER) or planning document. Loan applicants should include a completed copy of the checklist with their ER, provided in this report.
Massachusetts CWSRF Application Packet
Massachusetts CWSRF Application Packet
Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, Office of the Treasurer and Receiver, General Executive Office for Administration and Finance, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) collaborate pertaining to the application for financial assistance; CWSRF construction phase 2020. This package includes the application forms, instructions and other information relative to supporting documentation required to be submitted as part of the application. See changes from FY 2019 in the affordability criteria, housing choice, disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) goals, and fiscal sustainability planning. Note necessary documentation, and supplemental requirements. Starting page 15, part I of the form begins, leading into appendix files.
Massachusetts SRF Application Guidance
Massachusetts SRF Application Guidance
The clean Water State Revolving Fund of 2021 Project Construction Evaluation Form Instructions and Guidance give contact information and deadlines to follow, by the Department of Environmental Protection. Definitions and examples are given for all the necessary applicant and project identification and certification information, project schedules and cost, project evaluation process, and project ranking processes. Expect project effectiveness and environmental benefit to be prioritized in this MassDEP guide.
Georgia CWSRF Solicitation for Projects
Georgia CWSRF Solicitation for Projects
Call for 2020 CWSRF projects from (GEFA) Georgia finance authority! Types of projects eligible for CWSRF funding include, but are not limited to, projects that maintain compliance with wastewater rules and regulations, and improve water quality. The following project submission guidelines and program requirements answer common questions about who can apply to CWSRF loans, the minimum criteria for eligibility, eligible projects, and what qualifies for nonpoint source projects. Affordability criteria (median household income population trend and unemployment percent) is listed, followed by a detailed breakdown of the CWSRF scoring system.
Georgia Financing Options
Georgia Financing Options for Conservation Water and Energy projects
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) works to develop innovative programs to maintain Georgia’s energy, land, and water resources. GEFA also strives to make such initiatives more accessible and financially sound for communities throughout Georgia. Potential water efficiency and conservation projects fall under one of two groups: utility water loss, and end-sue efficiency and conservation. GEFA operates three low-interest loan programs that can be used by local governments to finance a wide range of energy production and conservation projects – the state-funded Georgia Fund, and the federally-funded Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF). See also the possible projects for energy production and conservation, applicable funding, and their financing terms.
Georgia CWSRF Application Guidance
Georgia CWSRF Application Guidance
Georgia’s CWSRF guidance for project requirements is laid out as follows: Planning document requirements, environmental review and planning documentation, environmental category information, plans and specifications, program policies, disadvantage business enterprises (DBE) solicitation guidelines, DBE review, and land acquisition requirements. A brief planning document should be developed to compare and analyze feasible alternatives for wastewater treatment and other Clean Water SRF-funded projects. The document must compare the costs of each alternative as well as environmental and other relevant non-monetary issues. Environmental categories are: wetlands, floodplains, water supply/water quality, water resources, groundwater recharge area, storm water, wastewater, air quality, solid wastes, soil stability, protected mountains, protected species, critical habitats, historical sites, and more. 21 policies under water quality projects are covered starting on page 23.
