Federal COVID-19 funds in Tennessee will not be used to combat COVID-19.
Instead, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), at least part of the $3.725 billion the state received from the American Rescue Plan will be spent on “water infrastructure.”
“Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects in communities throughout Tennessee,” according to that release.
“Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities,” the release says. “These grants are currently open for application. The remaining $269 million will go to state-initiated projects and toward competitive grants.”
For example, Greene County will receive $7.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds to address drinking water.
According to the release:
The county along with five utility districts have partnered to work on a common goal of reducing critical drinking water needs. The partners will execute 10 projects, half of which are planning, design, and construction projects. Projects include building Asset Management Plans for all drinking water systems, installing automated zone meters to identify and eliminate drinking water loss, replacing aging and failing distribution lines to improve service and arrest water loss, and improving reliability and water pressure by establishing a continued loop of distribution lines.
Johnson County will also receive $4.5 million for an almost identical project.
Unicoi County will receive $3.7 million for the following project:
The county along with two utility systems have partnered to work on a common goal of reducing critical wastewater and drinking water needs throughout the county. The partners will execute six planning, design, and construction projects. Projects will focus on developing Asset Management Plans for both partners, replacing aging and failing distribution lines to improve service and arrest water loss, updating the wastewater treatment plant, improving the lift station, and replacing elements in the aging and failing collection system.
Warren County will receive $5.5 million, and the city of Clarksville will receive a whopping $15.5 million “to construct a thermal dryer as part of its current wastewater treatment plant” that will “convert biosolids to a pelletized product suitable for land application as a fertilizer.”
Gov. Bill Lee (R) celebrated the use of the federal taxpayer funds to build water infrastructure instead of its intended use.
“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs across our state, especially in disadvantaged communities,” Lee said. “We commend communities who have gone through the application process, and we look forward to the substantial improvements the grants will bring.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
What a racket. Give me a million so I can buy a garden hose.