AP
The Biden administration on Thursday awarded $830 million to fund 80 projects aimed at shoring up America's crumbling infrastructure in the face of the damaging effects of climate change.
The money is expected to improve bridges, roads, gates, lanes, transportation services and other infrastructure in 37 states, Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands, especially in areas affected by increasingly frequent extreme weather events caused by a warming planet.
The funds come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act passed in 2021 and are added to other funds that are already reaching states for similar projects, according to the United States Department of Transportation.
The plan is part of federal efforts to address the negative effects of human-caused climate change. President Joe Biden has set aside more than $50 billion for climate-related projects through the infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. The president has stressed the importance of resilience and climate adaptation as he seeks a second term.
“We have seen too many examples of transportation infrastructure being closed or damaged by extreme weather, which is more extreme and more frequent in this time of climate change,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a call with reporters before the advertisement. “American infrastructure was not built for the climate we have today, and the consequences of this are very real and reported by people across the country.”
The secretary cited cases such as the wildfires in California, which affected railroads in the state, and the flooding in New York City, which caused problems in the crucial subway system. Incidents like these are getting worse as the planet warms, and March was the tenth consecutive month that broke the monthly temperature record.
“Not only is this timely, not only is this responsive to science, not only is this critical to the communities it benefits, but it has a great return on investment of public dollars,” said national climate advisor Ali Zaidi.
Approved projects include a flood control plan in Lena Gulch in Golden, Colorado; building a bridge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to replace the Arc of Justice Bridge, crucial for emergency services during severe flooding, or upgrading infrastructure in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to manage storm runoff.