"Democrats Call Infrastructure Bill a Down Payment on Climate"

"A bipartisan package includes the largest-ever federal spending for electric vehicle charging stations, public transit and clean water."

"WASHINGTON — The $1 trillion infrastructure deal reached by a bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday would make a significant down payment on President Biden’s ambitious environmental agenda, including the first federal expenditure on electric vehicle charging stations and the largest investment in public transit and clean water systems in the nation’s history.

The plan also includes the first federal spending designated for “climate resilience” — to adapt and rebuild roads, ports and bridges to withstand the damages wrought by the rising sea levels, stronger storms and more devastating heat waves that will come as the planet continues to warm.

But the money for provisions to cut the pollution fueling climate change is a fraction of the $2 trillion that Mr. Biden once vowed to spend. The White House sees the bipartisan measure, which includes $550 billion in new spending, as a first step toward passing a separate $3.5 trillion bill that Democrats hope to push through this fall on a party-line basis, over the objection of Republicans.

Democrats intend to build significant climate programs into that second bill, including a provision that would essentially pay electric utilities to generate energy from nonpolluting sources, and tax incentives for consumers to buy electric vehicles."

Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman report for the New York Times July 28, 2021.

"Key Details Of The Senate’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan" (AP)

"The Infrastructure Plan: What’s In and What’s Out" (New York Times)

"$1 Trillion Infrastructure Deal Scales Senate Hurdle With Bipartisan Vote" (New York Times)

"Infrastructure Deal Whittles Down Climate Spending" (E&E News)

"Bipartisan Infrastructure Pact Clears Key Senate Vote After Breakthrough In Talks" (Washington Post)

"US Senate Votes To Advance Infrastructure Deal After Bipartisan Breakthrough" (Guardian)

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Refuses to Die" (New Republic)

"Here Are The 17 Republican Senators Who Voted To Advance The $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill" (CNN)

"U.S. Senate Advances Roughly $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill" (Reuters)

"Senate Advances Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal" (NPR)

"FACT SHEET: Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal" (White House)