The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act -sample article from Electrical Apparatus magazine

A SUPPLEMENT TO

Electrical Apparatus More than Motors

A BARKS PUBLICATION

2022 E L P M SA LE C I T AR

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The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act • • • • • • • • •

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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Beyond pros, cons, and broad strokes, what will H.R. 3684 mean for the electromechanical industry?

An overview: What’s in it?

H.R.3684, commonly known as the BIB (Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill) or more formally as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was originally titled the INVEST in America Act. INVEST is an acronym for Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation.

The final legislation incorporates a number of additional acts, all with their own catchy names: • Build America, Buy America Act • BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2021 (website for information about Buy American laws) • Cyber Response and Recovery Act • Digital Equity Act of 2021 (access to broadband) • Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, and the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021 • Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Appropriations Act • Make PPE in America Act • Minority Business Development Act of 2021 • Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021 • REPLANT Act (Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees Act) • State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act • Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021, and the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 • Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act • Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021 • Improving Hazardous Materials Safety Act of 2021 • Motorcyclist Advisory Council Reauthorization Act • Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act • Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2021, and the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2021 • TRAIN Act - Transforming Rail by Accelerating Investment Nationwide Act • Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 For details, click the links above. You can also search the bill’s text for the names of specific acts and keywords.

The power grid - $108b advisable.

Cyberattacks, equipment breakIn addition to calling for repairs downs, and inability to meet surging and upgrades, the bill also will fund customer demand during emergency research and development. The situations have roiled the utility inDOE will hold a competitive applidustry and caused irreparable harm cation process for researchers with to individuals and communities. Agideas for innovative approaches to ing, deteriorating electrical systems transmission, storage, and distribuhave made these breakdowns espetion infrastructure. cially likely, expensive, and destrucThe second objective for securing tive. the grid deals with cybersecurity, In response, the infrastructure legSeveral sections of H. R. 3684 charge islation will spend billions to create the Department of Energy with ena “clean, 21st century electric grid.” hancing grid security through pubA first objective, Grid Infrastructure lic-private partnerships, establishResilience and Reliability, will uping establish a voluntary program grade aging and poorly configured to test the cybersecurity of products equipment, relocate poorly placed and technologies intended for use transmission lines, and install new, in the energy sector (the Energy Cymore powerful lines. These equipber Sense program), and offering ment improvements may be augincentives for advanced cybersecumented with advanced conductors; rity technology investment. Anothhardware or software that enables er program will provide grants and dynamic line ratings, advanced technical assistance to some rural, power flow control, or grid topology municipal, and smaller utilities, to optimization; and technology that protect them from cybersecurity improves resiliency and reliability. threats and to help them Lowering electricity sector recover if threats occur. greenhouse gas emissions While utility companies is another DOE goal, and the legislation calls for a re- for new investments have expressed appreciation for the bill, view of current codes some have quesand standards, to detioned whether it termine if enhancements or updates are for previously authorized projects goes far enough,

$550b $650b

Federal agencies are preparing to distribute billions to revive bridges, roads and other infrastructure projects that have been moribund for years.

Renewables - $2b

—Department of Energy photo

and whether any investment in technology can be nimble enough to fend off sophisticated hackers and stay ahead of ever-developing advances.

Often cited is the need to take pressure off the electrical grid with supplemental alternative power; and H.R. 3684 does provide for renewables.

Renewable energy sources received less money than many clean energy proponents expected, but significant elements exist in the bill’s TITLE III (Fuels and technology infrastructure investments): • $1.5 billion for clean hydrogen manufacturing and advancing recycling RD&D. • $750 million grant program to support advanced energy technology manufacturing projects in coal communities.

• $750 million grant program to support advanced energy technology manufacturing projects in coal communities.

Reaction from representative of the wind industries has been supportive. It appears that many are expecting better investment from the second Build Back Better bill that the Biden administration hopes to pass later in the year.

estimated annual cost of power outages

~ $70b

Water & wastewater - $55b The government is allocating $15 billion for lead pipe replacement, and $10 billion for chemical cleanup. Additional money will provide clean drinking water in tribal communities and will go to improve water infrastructure.

The funding could be a windfall (or, waterfall) for motors, generators, and pump companies.

As an —Department of Commerce photo

ABB statement noted, “...motors and drives are already improving the quality of water management throughout every step of the process – from intake and treatment through transmission and distribution....Energy-efficient technologies can help the U.S. cut energy consumption, reduce costs to consumers, and lower planet-warming emissions.”

Executives from WSCC Water, one of the nation’s largest water and wastewater facilities, issued a public thank you to Congress for passing the bill. “Approximately 45 percent of our pipes are over 50 years old,” the CEO commented. “These investments are vital to the health and strength of our nation.”

$7.4b

first 2021 tranche for water infrastructure grants and loan forgiveness

Buy American As its laborious birthing evidenced, the bipartisan infrastructure bill has not been universally applauded. Critics cite inflation and deficits as serious future concerns.

Others worry about transparency, inefficiency and biases that might influence how state governments will allocate the funds.

Still, polls indicate that H. R. 3684 is popular with citizens who have long wished for ways and means to complete desperately needed public repairs and improvements.

Receiving less attention is H. R. The General Accounting Office is charged with providing non-partisan information on government opera3684’s Title IX (Build America, Buy fact-based, tions. Topics related to Buy American concerns include cybercoronavirus, and technology.

America) (go to page 866 of the full security, —gao.gov screenshot text pdf), which both reinforces the requirements of previous Buy American legislation and also, in a nod to supply chain difficulties, provides rules and processes for waivers of that Act that may be deemed necessary. Per the bill, “every executive agency should scrupulously monitor, enforce, and comply with Buy American laws, ...and minimize the use annual procurement of waivers.”

$600b spending

Amtrak - $66b Making the largest investment in Amtrak’s 50 year history, the infrastructure bill provides for eliminating the backlog of obsolete assets and Amtrak’s deferred maintenance backlog of rolling stock, facilities, stations, and will go to Federal Railroad infrastructure. Capital projects Administration for state are another part of the package.

The funds should be a boon grants & other projects for manufacturers who make bearings, power trains and other essential parts for the rail industry.

—Amtrak photo

$44b

Broadband for all $65b There’s a provision in H.R. 3684 that could literally alter the lives —Steve Heap photo

and lifestyles of millions. Division F—Title I—provides grants to ensure that high-speed internet will be available throughout the United States.

In a TV interview, Virginia’s newly elected Lt. Governor, Winsome Sears expressed skepticism. Is it truly possible that private ISPs will be willing to offer the affordable plans the BIB bill requires, and will they upgrade equipment throughout all rural and sparsely populated areas? She wondered, too, if the legislation’s interest in prioritizing lower-income communities could cause the money to run out before wealthier communiof rural residents ties could take part.

Administration officials promdo not have a home ise that the allocated $65 broadband connection billion can provide at least $100m to each state. The legislation requires pricing and deployment transparency. Per program administrator Evelyn Remaley, “We now have the resources we need to close the digital divide and make America more connected, more competitive, and more equitable than ever before.”

37%

E-Transit - $15b Quite a few EA readers have added EV expertise to their sales, service or manufacturing skill sets. This segment of the transportation sector continues to grow, but concerns about range and charging accessibility have caused many would be buyers to hit the brakes on prospective new car buys. So drivers and techs alike should be cheered by the $7.5 b in the BIB that is designated for the nationwide deployment of 500,000 battery charging stations.

Other electric vehicle funding in the bill provides money for school buses, ferries, and other mass transit.

The Department of Transportation will be pushing for additional EV support in future legislation. In the meantime, the DOT has already announced close to $1 billion in Infrastructure Grant Awards, funding streets, highways, and transit hub projects throughout the U.S.

31%

of the global fleet will be EV’s by 2050

—Wikimedia Commons photo

$au$age making

How this bill became a law

Congress.gov provides legislative details of public laws, the U.S. Code, appropriations, and more. H.R. 3684 consistently tops the list of most-searched leg— Electrical Apparatus screenshot islation.

The summer news reports emphasized politics and personalities — but the infrastructure bill’s official legislative path followed fairly standard, and often dull, procedure. Proposals, committee hearings, amendments, floor debates, and many votes all had to happen before a controversial bill could become the acknowledged law of the land.

Those who enjoy exploring the sausage making can find myriad details at congress.gov. Simply drill down among the tabs and links to unearth troves of trivia. For example, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s 1,494 page Investing In A New Vision For The Environment And Surface Transportation In America Act report was an early milestone in the life of H.R. 3684, The report references hundreds of votes, earmarks, and amendments. It even lists project after project of federal surface transportation programs envisioned for fiscal year 2022. Organized by state, city, street and sometimes even traffic lights, learn what’s planned for improvements from Cowles Street in Fairbanks, Alaska to PRHTA-03 Bayamon in Puerto Rico.

The full text of the final enrolled version, as passed, certified and signed, is available at https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr3684/BILLS117hr3684enr.pdf (shortlink: https://bit.ly/3oN2ovB.) The text is searchable. Open the pdfs in your browser or pdf reader, and use FIND to search for keywords of interest.

Stay up to date

Here are the agencies that are in charge of infrastructure projects. Most of the websites have links to social media accounts and e-mail updates.

Access a complete • Transportation, HIghways, Bridges, pdf copy of the E-transportation, EV’s, Charging net1,039 page bill at work - Transportation Secretary Pete https://bit.ly/3oN2ovB Buttigieg, U.S. Department of Transportation, https://www.transportation.gov/ • Broadband - Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Assistant Secretary (OAS) Evelyn Remaley. National Telecommunications and Information Administration, div., U.S. Dept. of Commerce https://www.ntia.doc.gov • Energy, Smart Grid - Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov • Water and Drought Resilience, Wildfire Resilience, Ecosystem Resilience, Tribal Climate Resilience and Infrastructure, Legacy Pollution Clean-Up, Indian Water Rights Settlements - Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.doi.gov • Matters related to housing - Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, https://www.hud.gov • Matters related to workforce and labor - Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.dol.gov/ • Contract Opportunities website - https://www.SAM.gov/ • “Infrastructure Czar” - Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will coordinate implementation of law and oversee the disbursement of funds. Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ MitchLandrieu

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