Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) announced the House of Representative’s final approval of $5,673,000 for three key infrastructure projects located in his district. These projects were included at Nadler’s request in the FY2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report, a $33.5 billion appropriations bill which will invest in clean energy and infrastructure and encourage energy independence for the United States. Today’s vote was the final step before this legislation is signed into law by the President.

“These three infrastructure projects are extremely important initiatives for New York City,” said Nadler. “These projects will increase local investment, create local jobs, and provide Brooklyn and Manhattan with vital new infrastructure. In Coney Island, the ongoing Shore Protection Project led by the U.S. Army Corps of engineers will protect Coney Island’s famed beaches from erosion and ensure that storms do not threaten residents living along the shore. In Red Hook, the funds to dredge the Buttermilk
Channel will improve access for ships using the Container and Cruise Terminals, two critical sources of investment for Brooklyn. In Greenwich Village, a new green building will serve as a model for green construction and foment further green development in the immediate future.”

The three projects supported by Nadler are:

$3,000,000 for the Atlantic Coast of New York City, Rockaway Inlet to Norton Point Shore Protection Project, Coney Island, Brooklyn. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project will:

• Complete funding for the long-term effort to combat beach erosion and protect the coastline of Coney Island and Sea Gate. This $3,000,000 is part of a total of $16 million which Nadler has secured for the project since FY2003.

• Construct a series of T-Groins (rock jetties) along the Coney Island peninsula.

$1,673,000 for the dredging of Buttermilk Channel, Red Hook, Brooklyn. This Port Authority of New York and New Jersey project will:

• Dredge the waterway between Red Hook and Governors Island in order to allow improved ship access, both for the Red Hook Container Terminal and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

• Increase economic productivity and shipping capacity for Brooklyn and the region.

$1,000,000 for Construction of a Green Building for the New School University, Greenwich Village, New York. This project will:

• Create a new state-of-the-art green building with classrooms, a theater and laboratories for the New School University’s energy and environmental research center. Part of the new building’s mission will be to instruct and train future builders of green developments.