Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency formally invited the Sites Project Authority to apply for a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program loan.

 

“This is good news, especially after Senate Democrats recently killed my legislation – Senate Bill 890 – that would have helped fully fund Sites Reservoir,” said Nielsen.

 

In total, Sites will be eligible for up to $2.2 billion in low-interest loans, which accounts for 49 percent of the project’s cost.

 

Although the WIFIA program is primarily used for wastewater and drinking water systems, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 directed the EPA and Reclamation to work towards opening the program to some Reclamation water projects as well.