technology development and new regional business opportunities and foster urban-rural connections.
Community Revitalization. A $10 billion Community Revitalization Fund will support innovative, community-led redevelopment projects in rural and urban areas that spark new economic activity, provide services and amenities, build community wealth, and close the current gaps in access to the innovation economy for communities of color and rural residents.
Plugging Orphan Wells and Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines. Hundreds of thousands of former orphan oil and gas wells and abandoned mines pose serious safety hazards while also causing ongoing air and water contamination and other environmental damage. Many of these old wells and mines are located in rural communities that have suffered from years of disinvestment. President Biden’s plan includes an immediate up-front investment that will put 250,000 people to work in union jobs plugging oil and gas wells and restoring and reclaiming abandoned coal, hardrock, and uranium mines.
Build Next Generation Industries in Distressed Communities. President Biden believes that the market-based shift towards clean energy presents enormous opportunities for the development of new markets and new industries. For example, by pairing an investment in 15 hydrogen demonstration projects in distressed communities with a new production tax credit, we can spur capital-project retrofits and installation that bolster and decarbonize our industry. His plan will also establish 10 pioneer facilities that demonstrate carbon capture retrofits for large steel, cement, and chemical production, in addition to large-scale sequestration efforts in line with the bipartisan SCALE Act and enhancements to the 45Q tax credit.
Rural Transportation Infrastructure Projects. The President’s infrastructure plan expands investments in the Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants, of which at least $3 billion would go to support infrastructure projects in rural areas.
Transition Rural Co-Ops to Clean Energy. As part of a nationwide plan to modernize our power infrastructure, the President’s proposal will invest $10 billion to partner with rural electric cooperatives that are eager to benefit from low-cost clean energy, by retiring expensive and polluting power plants and replacing them with modern systems—improving public health and supporting good jobs at the same time.
Dedicated Funding for Tribal Lands. The President’s plan includes dedicated funding for largely rural tribal areas across many programs. The President’s plan funds critical water infrastructure needs in Indian Country as well as tribal water settlements. This plan will ensure significant funds are set aside for broadband infrastructure on tribal lands and that tribal nations are consulted in program administration. It also dedicates funding to Native American homeownership and affordable housing rental opportunities in tribal areas and it will more than double the Tribal Transportation Program to provide safe and adequate transportation and public road access to and within tribal areas.
