6.3 ERMUSR 03-13-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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communities (85% of those surveyed) identified nearly $5 billion in infrastructure needs over the • y next 20 years—a 15% increase in need from the "�""' "'. �`'+ 2015 survey. Most of the need is for replacement of aging infrastructure. Wastewater treatment facilities' major structural components have an expected useful life of 40voippp. 4,1,f years. As these structures deteriorate, effectiveness ''° • declines, leading to additional operating and maintenance costs and a greater potential for t .� permit violations and unintended discharges. Currently, 20% of Greater Minnesota's treatment The city of Willmar/Eagle Lake Sanitary District wastewater facilities are more than 40 years old. Of the sewer treatment facility went into service in 2010,serves approximately 20,000 people and carried a price tag of systems that carry wastewater to those plants approximately$80 million. in, 32% are over 50 years old, which is typically beyond the end of their useful life. Tax exempt bonds have financed $2 trillion in Electric new investments in infrastructure in the last The growing demand for renewable energy requires decade, including $112 billion in new investments greater investments in transmission to carry wind in electric power generation, transmission and power from its source to Minnesota's customer. distribution. Bonds have been and will continue to The retirement of much of the nation's coal-fired be vital to maintaining the electric infrastructure generation fleet with replacement by natural gas and other public facilities of the nation. power plants and renewable generation is already irreversible despite the new administration's Administration's Budget and restraint on further regulation. Further, regulatory Congressional Action requirements have greatly increased costs, We are encouraged by the renewed federal focus doubling them in some cases.As an example, the on maintaining and developing the nation's core EPA's Reciprocal Internal Combustion Engines infrastructure. There appears to be recognition at (RICE) rule required municipal utilities to install last from Washington of the urgent situation facing expensive catalytic converters on diesel generating local communities. While attention to the problem units that operate only a few hours per year. is welcome, the Administration's FY2019 budget causes us concern. If efforts to reinstitute the former 80/20 federal- local sharing arrangement are unsuccessful, f we still urge support for something better than the proposed 13/87 split. That relatively small proportion of federal investment in the ��. "` Administration's budget will not suffice to "' _ • ,a construct, repair and improve the infrastructure as needed to keep our communities safe and developing without significant increases in local taxes and utility rates. Shakopee Energy Park,owned and operated by the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, is a new natural gas- fired electric generating plant adjacent to Canterbury Park. 2018 Federal Position Statements/4 236