Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Updates

The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) -- also known as the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) -- and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) were signed into law by President Biden in November 2021 and August 2022, respectively. These two laws will enable unprecedented federal investment to directly support Connecticut’s goals to increase renewable energy resiliency, reduce carbon emissions, and develop a wide variety of environmental programs with environmental justice as a critical focus.

The two laws have both expanded existing funding and created brand-new federal programs and tax credits.  Funding will be disbursed over the course of up to 10 years. In some cases, DEEP will receive funding directly through formula allocation; in others, DEEP will apply for funds awarded through national competitions. DEEP will also work with municipalities, tribes, and other entities that may be the direct recipients of certain IRA or BIL funds. A very significant portion of IRA funding will also be available directly to CT residents and businesses in the form of tax credits, and DEEP will work to make it as easy as possible for CT residents and businesses to access that tax relief.

This page details the IRA and BIL funding opportunities DEEP has been awarded. It provides frequently updated information about the status of DEEP’s actions to secure and deploy those IRA and BIL funds. Where appropriate, related funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is also described. Please note that all DEEP-administered BIL and IRA grant funding opportunities that are active and accepting applications are posted on the DEEP Grants and Financial Assistance webpage, along with additional funding opportunities from other state and federal sources.

Following are the BIL and IRA funding opportunities that DEEP is actively pursuing, grouped by subject matter. Click on the following links to go to your area of interest, or scroll down for more:

• Broadband
• Brownfield Redevelopment
• Clean Air
• Clean, Efficient & Reliable Energy
• Climate Resilience & Green Infrastructure
• Environmental Justice
• Natural Resource Management
• Waste Management
• Water

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 
Administering Federal Agency: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Total Award to CT: $144M

For many in the state, especially those in low-income and underserved areas, barriers to internet connectivity remain. DEEP works to remove those barriers by implementing equitable policies and programs to expand access to fast, affordable, and reliable internet service.

The BEAD Program will fund broadband infrastructure projects that focus on both unserved locations and underserved locations. If funds remain after achieving universal access, these may be used to support access, adoption, and equity-related projects, such as deploying gigabit connections to community anchor institutions.

BEAD Funding Priorities: 

• Community Anchor Institutions (Lacking access to 1 Gbps/1 Gbps) and other digital equity projects
• Unserved locations (No service or lacking access to speeds of at least 25 Mbps/3 Mbps)
• Underserved locations (Lacking access to 100 Mbps/20 Mbps)

ConneCTed Communities Grant Program

Source of funding: American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Projects Fund
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury
Total Award to CT: $42.9M ($40.8 after administrative costs) 

This competitive grant program will fund broadband infrastructure projects designed to deliver service (at speeds of at least 100 Mbps/100 Mbps) that supports the statewide goal of universal access to affordable, resilient, and reliable internet access. The program will focus funding on low-income/multi-family curb-to-home broadband infrastructure buildout and underserved area broadband infrastructure.

Note: the summary graph at the top of this page shows BIL and IRA grants awarded to DEEP to date. It does not include this grant since its source of funding is the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Projects Fund (ARPA).

Brownfields 

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) 
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $4M 

DEEP was awarded this funding to administer to brownfield sites in Connecticut to perform I) environmental assessments and II) cleanup activities. DEEP encourages applications that enable the creation, preservation, or addition of park space, greenways or other recreational space, or other property used for nonprofit purposes. Eligible applicants are nonprofit entities whose redevelopment plans are most aligned with DEEP’s Mission to conserve, improve, and protect the natural resources and the environment, and to protect human health through the assessment and cleanup of polluted properties.

Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant (CPRG) 

Source of funding: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $3M 

This grant will provide funding to undertake further climate action planning to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) in Connecticut with an equity and environmental justice lens. EPA requires that CPRG grantees produce I) a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) which will include a focused list of near-term, high-priority, implementation-ready measures to reduce GHG pollution; and II) a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) which will establish near-term and long-term GHG emission reduction goals and strategies for all significant GHG sources and sectors in Connecticut. 

Connecticut’s climate plans will draw from and build upon the plans and policy recommendations of the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) and the state’s sector-specific climate plans in the areas of transportation, energy, buildings, and natural and working lands. The CCAP will serve as a roadmap to reach the state’s statutory GHG emission reduction targets of 45% below 2001 levels by 2030, a zero-carbon energy supply by 2040, and 80% below 2001 levels by 2050.

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Total Award to CT: $14.6M

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program was awarded to DEEP to expand Connecticut’s network of electric vehicle charging stations.  Funds will be used to increase access to electric vehicle chargers in seven communities (Barkhamsted, Bridgeport, East Hartford, Groton, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford) with an emphasis on neighborhood revitalization, transit-oriented development, and equitable access via additional on-street charging.

 

Solar for All - Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Source of funding: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $62.5M 

This program will use a combination of financial and technical assistance to increase access to residential distributed solar energy and energy storage for low-income and disadvantaged community households in Connecticut. Residents will benefit from financial assistance with increased incentives, more accessible loans, low-cost capital for solar and storage, and technical assistance for clean energy workforce development and community engagement. The program has the potential to reach thousands of additional households through Connecticut’s existing solar and storage programs, avoiding CO2 emissions and saving residents on energy costs.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Total Award to CT: $46M 

This grant program assists low-income persons in minimizing energy-related costs and fuel usage in their homes through retrofits and home improvement measures. This program is administered by DEEP in partnership with non-profit service providers. These competitively selected service providers qualify households and coordinate services, while DEEP provides overall program management and technical assistance. Priority is given to particularly vulnerable households, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, and high-energy users. BIL funding is being used to establish a multifamily (5+ units) weatherization program. Historically, WAP has only served 1-4 unit buildings.

Home Energy Rebates – Efficiency

Source of funding: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Total Award to CT: $1.2M 

Home Energy Rebates – Electrification 

Source of funding: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Total Award to CT: $1.2M 

The Home Energy Rebates funding is for states and territories to implement residential energy efficiency and electrification programs. These home energy rebates will help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. CT DEEP was awarded early administrative funds for these two grants, which the agency will use to develop a full application for the remainder of its $99.4M allocation and to begin developing its programs. 

Note: Home Energy Rebates funds are not yet available. Households looking for home energy retrofit assistance today cannot yet access these rebates but may be eligible for other federal or state programs.

State Energy Program (SEP)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Total Award to CT: $5.2M 

This grant supports Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES). These funds can be used to pay for projects that promote energy efficiency, energy security, or environmentally friendly economic growth. Projects are selected by DEEP in alignment with the goals of the Comprehensive Energy Strategy.

Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant Program

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Total Award to CT: $16M 

This grant program will support the efficient and reliable integration of variable and distributed energy resources needed to meet the state’s 100% zero-carbon electric sector goal and avoid fossil peaking generation. Grant funds will be used to improve system reliability and resilience in various weather and storm conditions as well as to attract, train, and retain a skilled and local workforce, especially from disadvantaged communities.

Urban Forest Equity Grant Program

Source of funding: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Total Award to CT: $2.6M ($2.2M after administrative costs) 

Urban and community trees can be used to offset climate change impacts such as extreme heat and flooding while also storing and sequestering carbon as they grow. While these trees provide many important benefits, low-income communities often have less access to trees and other green spaces than more affluent communities. Thanks to a federal funding allocation through the Inflation Reduction Act, this grant program will provide funding for underserved communities throughout the state to pursue urban and community forestry projects. Because this program is focused on reaching underserved and historically underrepresented communities, there will be no match requirement for this grant.

State Forest Action Plan (SFAP) Implementation

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Total Award to CT: $480,000  

This funding will increase DEEP Forestry’s capacity to implement priorities and strategies contained in the CT Forest Action Plan. More specifically, these funds will support salary and related expenses to support an outreach forester who will promote awareness of the importance of Connecticut's tree and forest resources for climate resilience, human health, and wildlife habitat.

State Fire Assistance Infrastructure (SFA)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Total Award to CT: $119,000  

This funding will support salary and related expenses increasing capacity within DEEP Forestry’s Fire Prevention and Control Program by adding an additional Fire Control Officer in western Connecticut. Fire Control Officers provide wildfire suppression and control training and technical assistance to municipal fire departments and help administer volunteer fire department assistance and grants for dry hydrant installation.

Invasives-State Capacity 

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Total Award to CT: $56,000  

This funding will suppress the spread of harmful invasive plant species on DEEP public trust properties, namely State Forests in northwestern Connecticut. These funds may also support the Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration Grant Program, to help communities manage invasive species and address other forest health issues in urban forested natural areas and riparian corridors. This grant program is currently closed and DEEP anticipates reopening it soon.

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Total Award to CT: $50,000  

This funding is being used in conjunction with two other USDA Forest Service grants: the State Fire Assistance (SFA) and the State Forest Action Plan (SFAP). The Community Wildfire Defense funds have been earmarked to support a Fire Control Office position in Western Connecticut.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $592,000  

This grant supports the National Recycling Strategy to build a circular economy for all. DEEP will use these funds to design and develop a new, more agile data management system for recycling information than the one it uses now. DEEP will also evaluate the efficacy of recently implemented municipal diversion programs through targeted waste characterizations; and support the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association in establishing a regional professional development training program.

Clean Water Fund – Supplemental

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $47.3M  

These funds support water quality projects in disadvantaged communities.  In Connecticut, the program will have a focus on providing funding for projects located in distressed communities. It will reduce sewer overflows to urban rivers and reduce nitrogen discharges to the Long Island Sound.

For Fiscal Year (FY) 23 and through FY26, this grant is planned to be used to fund the Norwich (a distressed community) treatment plant upgrade as it is a significant shovel-ready project meeting the criteria identified in DEEP Clean Water Fund Priority List. This upgrade will increase the average design hydraulic capacity of the plant from 17 to 20 million gallons per day, thereby reducing the volume of untreated sewer overflows to the Thames River. It will also improve nitrogen removal to benefit the water quality of Long Island Sound.

Long Island Sound Study (LISS)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $6.5M  

This grant program will advance habitat restoration and access along the Long Island Sound coast, river connectivity, integrated environmental characterization of Long Island Sound, water quality in embayments, and green infrastructure in the Long Island Sound watershed. 

Funding for projects is awarded through 24-member Management Committee by evaluating workgroup recommendations, input from the Implementation Team, and how work fits into the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan as well as how work improves the environmental health, climate resiliency, and economic vitality of the Sound in an equitable manner. The Management Committee is comprised of representatives of the Long Island Sound Study Management Conference, established by Congress in 1985 to develop the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for restoring and protecting Long Island Sound.

Clean Water Fund – Stormwater and Sewer Overflow Grant (OSG)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $1.4M  

This grant will allow Connecticut to assist communities in meeting combined and sanitary sewer overflows as well as stormwater management infrastructure needs, by funding projects in the public right of way and private property.  DEEP has targeted funding to the rehabilitation of private sewer laterals for homes located in North Hartford to mitigate the chronic residential sewer backups experienced disproportionately by North Hartford’s disadvantaged communities.

Traditionally, work on private property has been excluded from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). However, in light of the ongoing public health and environmental equity crisis, the Department has determined that the OSG program is well-suited to provide additional funding for projects funded under this Priority List in the North Hartford area.

Clean Water Fund - Emerging Contaminants

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $3.7M  

This grant seeks to address emerging contaminants (including polyfluoroalkyl substances - PFAS) through any project eligible per section 603(c) of the Clean Water Act. The study and/or removal of PFAS and other emerging contaminants from the environment will be a priority, in accordance with CT DEEP’s water quality goals and the state PFAS Action Plan.

DEEP is working with EPA to develop a workplan to use the Emerging Contaminants grant in a manner that meets federal eligibility and aligns with the Statewide PFAS Action Plan. Fund eligibility consists of capital project costs, inclusive of planning and design (including monitoring) that is integral to the development of an eligible capital project.

Coastal Zone Management (CZM)

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Total Award to CT: $431,000  

This grant program provides funding to coastal states for capacity-building, planning and projects to restore and protect coastal habitats and increase resilience.  Funds are awarded to states through non-competitive and competitive grants.

Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) 

Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
Administering Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Total Award to CT: $375,000  

This grant program will be used to support the Clean Water Act objectives to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters, determine the nature, extent and causes of point and nonpoint source pollution problems, and to develop plans to resolve these problems. Funding is allocated to support staff 1 FTE to implement the program and projects for water quality management planning in the Water Planning Programs.

Additional Funding Resources

All Federal and State Grants administered by DEEP

The DEEP Grants and Financial Assistance webpage describes active grant programs that DEEP offers to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and others. Funding opportunities include both federal and state sources.

Links to Additional Federal Grant Information

• Biden Administration Landing Page for BIL
  This website provides the most up-to-date information about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• Biden Administration Landing Page for IRA
  This website provides the most up-to-date information about the Inflation Reduction Act.
• CT Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team (CT BILT)
  This website highlights the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s investments in Connecticut from through various state agencies.
• Investing in America
  This website shows the impact of record-breaking levels of public and private investment across states and territories coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, American Rescue Plan Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act.

Other aggregators of federal/IRA/BIL grant info:

• EPA: Combined BIL & IRA funding announcements.
• NOAA: Funding opportunities