Consultant: Pasadena Utilities Have Access to Federal Funds for Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, Charging and Fueling Infrastructure, More

During the meeting of the Municipal Services Committee on Tuesday, federal advocacy consultant, The Ferguson Group, presented an overview as to funding opportunities available for Pasadena Water and Power through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 

President Joe Biden signed the IRA in August 2022.

The law provides $500 billion in guaranteed financial assistance that aims to boost clean energy, reduce healthcare costs, and increase tax revenues. 

Of this amount, $369 is allotted for “energy security and climate change.” 

The IIJA, which was signed into law in November 2021, provides $1 trillion in investments for broadband, rail and transit, clean energy, and water. 

Of this amount, the IIJA includes $77.5 billion for power and electric vehicle infrastructure. 

“There’s a good amount of funding out there available for you,” Chris Kearney from The Ferguson Group said at the MSC meeting.

According to Kearney, the grant programs under IIJA include the WaterSMART and energy efficiency grants.

It also includes the charging and fueling infrastructure grants.

Other opportunities for Pasadena’s utility under IRA and IIJA include the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, intended to provide funding after there has been presidential declaration of a disaster.

PWP General Manager Sidney Jackson said PWP is pursuing the funding through the IRA and IIJA. 

“We are looking at how we can collectively from a water and power standpoint, maximize our participation and effectiveness and then also, we are having conversations with the city on how we might coordinate with the city as well,”  Jackson added.