SUNY Purchase gets $2.1 million in stimulus money for green roof project

October

SUNY Purchase will be helped in building a 24,000 square foot green roof with more than $2 million in federal stimulus money.

The green roof will decrease stormwater runoff by about a third.

“This is huge for us. It helps change the central infrastructure of our plaza,” said Geri Sanderson, the college’s spokeswoman wrote to the Journal News. “Our water drainage systems will be vastly improved.”

The money is part of $7.89 million for innovative water quality projects in the Hudson Valley announced by Gov. David Paterson. The money comes through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and was awarded to 15 different projects through a new State initiative known as the Green Innovation Grant Program, which promotes sustainable, environmentally sensitive water infrastructure and technologies.

The grants will support cost-cutting solutions for progressive water conservation, energy efficiency technologies for drinking water systems and clean water infrastructure. The projects include green roofs, permeable pavement, rain harvesting and progressive wastewater treatment processes. In addition, the program expands green job opportunities across the State and builds upon a legacy of green municipal works and entrepreneurship.

“These investments boost local economies and create new jobs, while also promoting our environmental sustainability. The Hudson Valley will soon see innovative solutions to threats to our rivers, lakes and streams that make for healthier water systems,” Paterson said.

Last March, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) solicited projects to identify green infrastructure opportunities in need of funds.

Officials from EFC, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and State Department of Health reviewed nearly 300 applications seeking nearly $468 million. The selected projects were then submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final approval. Each grant recipient must comply with the ARRA, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act and the New York State Revolving Fund requirements.

New York received $432 million through the ARRA for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $86 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The ARRA requires states to direct 20 percent of their stimulus funding to water quality projects that use innovative approaches to energy and water efficiency, incorporate stormwater infrastructure and use innovative treatment technologies.

A full list of the grant recipients announced today is available at www.nysefc.org/greengrants

This entry was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm by Greg Clary.
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One Response to “SUNY Purchase gets $2.1 million in stimulus money for green roof project”

Jorg Breuning October 3rd, 2009 at 5:49 am
Well spent?
If I do the math this green roof will cost approx. $100 per square foot. However the average price for an extensive green roof in the US is around $10 per square foot.
Somebody is putting $90 per square foot in their pocket = it is wasting tax payer’s money par excellence.
Conclusion: People are bad – green roofs are great!

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