[미국] TWCB, 텍사스의 총 39억달러 규모 물실행기금 승인 고려

텍사스 수자원개발국(Texas Water Development Board, TWDB)은 텍사스의 스티븐 F. 오스틴 빌딩에서 텍사스의 국가적 물실행기금(State Water Implementation Fund for Texas, SWIFT)을 마련하기 위한 이사회를 지난 7월 23일 개최했다. 이사회는 첫 해에 거의 21개에 해당하는 약 10억 달러 규모에 대한 지원자들의 요청승인을 검토할 예정이며, 이는 향후 10년 간 누적합계 약 39억 달러를 기록할 것으로 보인다.

한편, SWIFT는 국가적 물계획에 프로젝트에 대한 저금리 및 연기 대출, 이사회 참여를 포함해 지원자에게 융통성 있는 금융옵션을 제공하고 있다.

On Thursday, July 23, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will hold a board meeting at the Stephen F. Austin Building in the city of Austin, Texas, to approve the inaugural round of funding from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT).

The Board will consider approving the requests of 21 applicants for approximately $1 billion in projects in the first year and approximately $3.9 billion total over the next decade. SWIFT offers applicants flexible financing options including Board participation, low-interest loans and deferred loans for projects in the state water plan. Applicants are also able to apply for multi-year commitments given the length of time water projects can take to design, build and implement.

The applicants are requesting funding for 32 projects identified in the state water plan. The types of projects being considered include transmission pipelines, leak detection systems, canal linings, capacity expansions, seawater desalination, water meter replacements, and reservoirs. Conservation, agricultural and rural projects will be among those considered for approval.

SWIFT was established by the Texas Legislature and voters in 2013 to fund projects in the state water plan. Further, it was created through the transfer of a one-time, $2-billion appropriation from the state's Rainy Day Fund. The $2 billion will be leveraged with revenue bonds over the next 50 years to finance approximately $27 billion in water supply projects.

The TWDB approved rules for prioritizing projects applying for SWIFT in November 2014. Interested entities were then invited to submit an abridged application to the Board in February 2015. The abridged applications were prioritized, and eligible applicants were invited to submit a full, detailed application by June 5, 2015. The TWDB anticipates closing loans for projects approved for SWIFT financing in fall 2015.

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 7월 21일]