Buildings as Infrastructure:
Comparing the Policy Plans
In late March, President Biden released his American Jobs Plan, a $2.25 trillion package of infrastructure and other investments intended to support economic recovery, create jobs and address climate change and inequity.
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In the coming weeks and months, Congressional leaders from both parties will unveil their own legislative proposals.
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How to these packages stack up in terms of how they address buildings as infrastructure? BuildingAction will track the main proposals and show what they include that will help in transforming America's buildings.
Categories
Click on the icons to learn what each plan has to say about the main issues in sustainable building.
Efficiency
Federal
Equity
Transportation
Commercial
Civic
Workforce
Research
Residential
Resilience
Tax Incentives
Educational
Health
Materials & Components
Biden American Jobs Plan
Efficiency
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Establish a $27 billion Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator to mobilize private investment into distributed energy resources; retrofits of residential, commercial and municipal buildings; and clean transportation.
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Extend and expand commercial efficiency tax credits.
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$100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools, through $50 billion in direct grants and an additional $50 billion leveraged through bonds. Invest in cutting-edge, energy-efficient and electrified, resilient, and innovative school buildings.
​
$10 billion in the modernization, sustainability, and resilience of federal buildings, including through a bipartisan Federal Capital Revolving Fund to support investment in a major purchase, construction or renovation of Federal facilities and purchasing 24/7 clean power for federal buildings
​
Produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, resilient, accessible, energy efficient, and electrified housing units through targeted tax credits, formula funding, grants, and project-based rental assistance.
​
$40 billion to improve the infrastructure of the public housing system in America to address critical life-safety concerns, mitigate imminent hazards to residents, and undertake energy efficiency measures which will significantly reduce ongoing operating expenses.
​
Put union building trade workers to work upgrading homes and businesses to save families money.
​
Enable the manufacture of electric vehicles, charging ports, and electric heat pumps for residential heating and commercial buildings through a $46 billion investment in federal buying power.
​
Establish an Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard (EECES) aimed at cutting electricity bills and electricity pollution.
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Establish clean energy block grants that can be used to support clean energy, worker empowerment, and environmental justice.
​
Invest in the Economic Development Agency’s Public Works program and in “Main Street” revitalization efforts through HUD and USDA; spur targeted sustainable, economic development efforts through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER grant program, DOE retooling grants for idled factories, and dedicated funding to support community-driven environmental justice efforts, such as capacity and project grants to address legacy pollution and the cumulative impacts experienced by frontline and fenceline communities.
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Target 40 percent of climate and clean infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities.
​
Commercial Buildings
Establish a $27 billion Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator to mobilize private investment into distributed energy resources; retrofits of residential, commercial and municipal buildings; and clean transportation.
​
Extend and expand commercial efficiency tax credits.
​
Put union building trade workers to work upgrading homes and businesses to save families money.
​
Enable the manufacture of electric vehicles, charging ports, and electric heat pumps for residential heating and commercial buildings through a $46 billion investment in federal buying power.
​
Residential Buildings
The President’s plan invests $213 billion to produce, preserve, and retrofit more than two million affordable and sustainable places to live.
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Produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, resilient, accessible, energy efficient, and electrified housing units through targeted tax credits, formula funding, grants, and project-based rental assistance.
​
Build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers. Pass the innovative, bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA). Offering $20 billion worth of NHIA tax credits over the next five years will result in approximately 500,000 homes built or rehabilitated, creating a pathway for more families to buy a home and start building wealth.
​
Upgrade homes through block grant programs, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and by extending and expanding home efficiency tax credits.
​
$40 billion to improve the infrastructure of the public housing system in America to address critical life-safety concerns, mitigate imminent hazards to residents, and undertake energy efficiency measures which will significantly reduce ongoing operating expenses.
​
Put union building trade workers to work upgrading homes and businesses to save families money.
​
Establish a $27 billion Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator to mobilize private investment into distributed energy resources; retrofits of residential, commercial and municipal buildings; and clean transportation.
​
Enable the manufacture of electric vehicles, charging ports, and electric heat pumps for residential heating and commercial buildings through a $46 billion investment in federal buying power.
​
Enact an innovative, new competitive grant program that awards flexible and attractive funding to jurisdictions that take concrete steps to eliminate exclusionary zoning and harmful land use policies like like minimum lot sizes, mandatory parking requirements, and prohibitions on multifamily housing.
​
To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, invest $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) grants. In addition to reducing lead exposure in homes, this investment also will reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and childcare facilities.
​
Educational Facilities
$100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools, through $50 billion in direct grants and an additional $50 billion leveraged through bonds, to make schools safe and healthy places of learning, for example by improving indoor air quality and ventilation. Invest in cutting-edge, energy-efficient and electrified, resilient, and innovative school buildings. Funds also will be provided to improve school kitchens, so they can be used to better prepare nutritious meals for our students and go green by reducing or eliminating the use of paper plates and other disposable materials.
​
$12 billion in community college infrastructure States will be responsible for using the dollars to address both existing physical and technological infrastructure needs at community colleges and identifying strategies to address access to community college in education deserts.
​
$25 billion to upgrade child care facilities and build new supply in high need areas. Funding would be provided through a Child Care Growth and Innovation Fund for states to build a supply of infant and toddler care in high-need areas.
​
Expanded tax credit to encourage businesses to build child care facilities at places of work. Employers will receive 50 percent of the first $1 million of construction costs per facility so that employees can enjoy the peace of mind and convenience that comes with on-site child care.
​
To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, invest $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) grants. In addition to reducing lead exposure in homes, this investment also will reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and childcare facilities.
​
Federal Facilities
$10 billion in the modernization, sustainability, and resilience of federal buildings, including through a bipartisan Federal Capital Revolving Fund to support investment in a major purchase, construction or renovation of Federal facilities and purchasing 24/7 clean power for federal buildings
$18 billion to modernize Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics.
​
Utilize the vast tools of federal procurement to purchase low carbon materials for construction and clean power for these newly constructed VA hospitals and federal buildings.
​
Enable the manufacture of electric vehicles, charging ports, and electric heat pumps for residential heating and commercial buildings through a $46 billion investment in federal buying power.
​
$40 billion in upgrading research infrastructure in laboratories across the country, including brick-and-mortar facilities and computing capabilities and networks. These funds would be allocated across the federal R&D agencies, including at the Department of Energy.
​
Public/Civic Buildings
Establish a $27 billion Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator to mobilize private investment into distributed energy resources; retrofits of residential, commercial and municipal buildings; and clean transportation.
​
Bring underserved communities new critical physical, social, and civic infrastructure. Invest in the Economic Development Agency’s Public Works program and in “Main Street” revitalization efforts through HUD and USDA; spur targeted sustainable, economic development efforts through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER grant program, DOE retooling grants for idled factories, and dedicated funding to support community-driven environmental justice efforts, such as capacity and project grants to address legacy pollution and the cumulative impacts experienced by frontline and fenceline communities.
​
Resilience
$100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools, through $50 billion in direct grants and an additional $50 billion leveraged through bonds. Invest in cutting-edge, energy-efficient and electrified, resilient, and innovative school buildings. Better operating school facilities will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and also will become environments of community resilience with green space, clean air, and safe places to gather, especially during emergencies.
Produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, resilient, accessible, energy efficient, and electrified housing units through targeted tax credits, formula funding, grants, and project-based rental assistance.
​
$40 billion to improve the infrastructure of the public housing system in America to address critical life-safety concerns, mitigate imminent hazards to residents, and undertake energy efficiency measures which will significantly reduce ongoing operating expenses.
​
Invest in vulnerable communities through a range of programs, including FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program, new initiatives at the Department of Transportation, a bipartisan tax credit to provide incentives to low- and middle-income families and to small businesses to invest in disaster resilience, and transition and relocation assistance to support community-led transitions for the most vulnerable tribal communities.
Invest in protection from extreme wildfires, coastal resilience to sea-level rise and hurricanes, support for agricultural resources management and climate-smart technologies, and the protection and restoration of major land and water resources like Florida’s Everglades and the Great Lakes.
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Healthy Buildings
$100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools, through $50 billion in direct grants and an additional $50 billion leveraged through bonds. These funds will first go toward making sure our schools are safe and healthy places of learning, for example by improving indoor air quality and ventilation. Funds also will be provided to improve our school kitchens, so they can be used to better prepare nutritious meals for our students and go green by reducing or eliminating the use of paper plates and other disposable materials.
​
To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, invest $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) grants. In addition to reducing lead exposure in homes, this investment also will reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and childcare facilities.
​
Justice and Equity
$12 billion in community college infrastructure States will be responsible for using the dollars to address both existing physical and technological infrastructure needs at community colleges and identifying strategies to address access to community college in education deserts.
​
$25 billion to upgrade child care facilities and build new supply in high need areas. Funding would be provided through a Child Care Growth and Innovation Fund for states to build a supply of infant and toddler care in high-need areas.
​
Expanded tax credit to encourage businesses to build child care facilities at places of work. Employers will receive 50 percent of the first $1 million of construction costs per facility so that employees can enjoy the peace of mind and convenience that comes with on-site child care.
​
$40 billion in upgrading research infrastructure in laboratories across the country, including brick-and-mortar facilities and computing capabilities and networks. Half of those funds will be reserved for Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions, including the creation of a new national lab focused on climate that will be affiliated with an HBCU.
​
Invest a combined $48 billion in American workforce development infrastructure and worker protection. This includes registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, creating one to two million new registered apprenticeships slots, and strengthening the pipeline for more women and people of color to access these opportunities through successful pre-apprenticeship programs such as the Women in Apprenticeships in Non-Traditional Occupations.
​
Target workforce development opportunities in underserved communities. All of the investments in workforce training will prioritize underserved communities and communities hit hard by a transforming economy. Ensure that new jobs created in clean energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure are open and accessible to women and people of color.
​
Establish clean energy block grants that can be used to support clean energy, worker empowerment, and environmental justice.
​
Bring underserved communities new critical physical, social, and civic infrastructure. Invest in the Economic Development Agency’s Public Works program and in “Main Street” revitalization efforts through HUD and USDA; spur targeted sustainable, economic development efforts through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER grant program, DOE retooling grants for idled factories, and dedicated funding to support community-driven environmental justice efforts, such as capacity and project grants to address legacy pollution and the cumulative impacts experienced by frontline and fenceline communities.
​
Target 40 percent of climate and clean infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities.
​
Enact an innovative, new competitive grant program that awards flexible and attractive funding to jurisdictions that take concrete steps to eliminate exclusionary zoning and harmful land use policies like like minimum lot sizes, mandatory parking requirements, and prohibitions on multifamily housing.
​
Invest in vulnerable communities through a range of programs, including FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program, new initiatives at the Department of Transportation, a bipartisan tax credit to provide incentives to low- and middle-income families and to small businesses to invest in disaster resilience, and transition and relocation assistance to support community-led transitions for the most vulnerable tribal communities.
To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, invest $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) grants. In addition to reducing lead exposure in homes, this investment also will reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and childcare facilities.
​
Workforce
Put union building trade workers to work upgrading homes and businesses to save families money.
​
Invest a combined $48 billion in American workforce development infrastructure and worker protection. This includes registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, creating one to two million new registered apprenticeships slots, and strengthening the pipeline for more women and people of color to access these opportunities through successful pre-apprenticeship programs such as the Women in Apprenticeships in Non-Traditional Occupations.
​
Target workforce development opportunities in underserved communities. All of the investments in workforce training will prioritize underserved communities and communities hit hard by a transforming economy. President Biden also will call upon Congress to ensure that new jobs created in clean energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure are open and accessible to women and people of color.
​
Ensure all workers have a free and fair choice to join a union by passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, and guarantee union and bargaining rights for public service workers
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Tie federal investments in clean energy and infrastructure to prevailing wages and require transportation investments to meet existing transit labor protections.
​
Establish clean energy block grants that can be used to support clean energy, worker empowerment, and environmental justice.
​
Tax Incentives
Extend and expand commercial efficiency tax credits.
​
Expanded tax credit to encourage businesses to build child care facilities at places of work. Employers will receive 50 percent of the first $1 million of construction costs per facility so that employees can enjoy the peace of mind and convenience that comes with on-site child care.
​
Produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, resilient, accessible, energy efficient, and electrified housing units through targeted tax credits, formula funding, grants, and project-based rental assistance.
​
Build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers. Pass the innovative, bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA). Offering $20 billion worth of NHIA tax credits over the next five years will result in approximately 500,000 homes built or rehabilitated, creating a pathway for more families to buy a home and start building wealth.
​
Upgrade homes through block grant programs, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and by extending and expanding home efficiency tax credits.
​
Invest in vulnerable communities through a range of programs, including FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program, new initiatives at the Department of Transportation, a bipartisan tax credit to provide incentives to low- and middle-income families and to small businesses to invest in disaster resilience, and transition and relocation assistance to support community-led transitions for the most vulnerable tribal communities.
​
Transportation Facilities
$25 billion for airports, including funding for the Airport Improvement Program, upgrades to FAA assets that ensure safe and efficient air travel, and a new program to support terminal renovations and multimodal connections for affordable, convenient, car-free access to air travel.
​
Invest $85 billion to modernize existing transit and help agencies expand their systems to meet rider demand. This investment will double federal funding for public transit, spend down the repair backlog, and bring bus, bus rapid transit, and rail service to communities and neighborhoods across the country. It will ultimately reduce traffic congestion for everyone. May include funding for transit stations.
​
Research Facilities
$40 billion in upgrading research infrastructure in laboratories across the country, including brick-and-mortar facilities and computing capabilities and networks. These funds would be allocated across the federal R&D agencies, including at the Department of Energy. Half of those funds will be reserved for Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions, including the creation of a new national lab focused on climate that will be affiliated with an HBCU.
​
Materials & Components
Utilize the vast tools of federal procurement to purchase low carbon materials for construction and clean power for these newly constructed VA hospitals and federal buildings.
​
Enable the manufacture of electric vehicles, charging ports, and electric heat pumps for residential heating and commercial buildings through a $46 billion investment in federal buying power, creating good-paying jobs and reinvigorating local economies, especially in rural areas.
​