MIDDLETOWN TO RECEIVE $17 MILLION FOR UPGRADES

Stimulus Monies Help to Protect the Wallkill River While Reducing Costs for Local Taxpayers

The City of Middletown will receive $17 million in grant funding to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant on the Wallkill River. The $36.4 million project will modernize the City's 80 year-old treatment facility, utilizing conventional structural and equipment repairs and energy-saving, advanced water treatment processes. The project will serve approximately 25,000 residents and 700 businesses, who stand to save an estimated $15 million in avoided interest expense and energy costs.

Senator John Bonacic said: "Better infrastructure means jobs and the potential for planned growth. Middletown has long needed to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment facility. Having lived and worked in or near Middletown for decades, I know this project has long been on the City's drawing board. I am very pleased it now has the funds to move forward."

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation will provide financing for the majority of the $36.4 million project costs. In addition to the $17 million from the federal stimulus program, EFC will provide the City with a $12 million low-interest loan via the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. EFC will also refinance an outstanding $5.7 million Bond Anticipation Note held by the City upon project completion. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will provide the City with the remaining $1.7 million from the State's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Authority has worked closely with the Corporation to identify Recovery Act eligible, "green" technologies at treatment facilities throughout the State.

Upon completion, the project will increase the facility's treatment capacity from 6 to 8.5 Million Gallons per Day and ensure that the City complies with State and Federal water quality standards. The City's new, state-of-the-art facility will contain numerous energy-saving treatment processes, including fine bubble diffusers, high-efficiency ultraviolet disinfection system, and biogas-fueled generators. These processes will reduce the City's energy costs and produce cleaner, safer discharges into the Wallkill River. Construction began in February 2009 and is expected to be completed by February 2011.

New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Acting President Matthew Millea said: "This project is yet another example of stimulus funding having a positive impact on the lives of New Yorkers that have been hard-hit by the global recession. Thanks to Governor Paterson and our Congressional Delegation's support of funding water quality projects through the Federal stimulus program, we are able to make this important announcement today."

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