Two years in, here’s what Biden’s infrastructure law has done for Michigan

Wednesday marks the second anniversary of the signing of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law, a key piece of the president’s economic agenda and the most significant investment in America’s infrastructure in generations. 

Since its signing, $400 billion has been funneled into over 40,000 specific infrastructure projects across over 4,500 communities in all 50 states, as well as in Washington DC, in the US territories, and in tribal lands. 

This funding has upgraded highways, invested in transit systems, improved water systems, funded lead pipe replacement, expanded access to high-speed internet, and more. New projects are breaking ground each day, and the investments have helped fuel a construction and manufacturing boom that’s contributed to the millions of new jobs created over the past two years.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that since the infrastructure bill was signed two years ago, the country has seen the largest increase in state and local capital investment as a share of its gross domestic product since 1979. She lauded the Biden administration’s investments in a statement shared with the public on Wednesday. 

“These investments are boosting our country’s economic strength and resilience for the long haul,” she said. “And they’re also broadening economic opportunity for people and places that have historically been left behind.” 

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement that with the signing of the infrastructure bill, President Biden ensured that a “prosperous, clean energy economy that invests in the American people” is possible.

“I’m so proud of the progress the DOE has made over the last two years to implement this historic legislation fairly and equitably, underscoring this administration’s commitment to reversing the legacy of inequity and underinvestment woven into our country’s past infrastructure projects,” she said.

In Michigan, $9.4 billion in funding has been announced, with over 376 specific infrastructure projects identified for funding, according to the White House.

Of that amount, approximately $6.5 billion has been announced for upgrades to roads, bridges, public transit, ports, and airports and another $489 million has been announced for clean water and water infrastructure.

Additionally, the state has received $1.6 billion to connect residents to reliable high-speed internet. As of Oct. 2023, more than 820,000 Michigan households are already saving on their monthly internet bill due to the law’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which lowers the cost of low-income customers’ monthly bills.

The Dept. of Energy has awarded $1 billion to the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana to create the Midwest Hydrogen Hub; this “hub” will produce clean hydrogen from renewables, nuclear energy, and natural gas. It will then be used for steel and glass production, transportation, and power generation. Over $100 million is being used to replace the I-375 freeway in Detroit, as well. 

“Michiganders always get the job done — their infrastructure should do the same,” Democratic Sen. Gary Peters said on Twitter. “We’re fixing hundreds of bridges, and repairing thousands of miles of highway from Detroit all the way to Ironwood. We’re also bringing clean drinking water to every Michigan family, lowering energy costs for households, and connecting hundreds of thousands of Michiganders to reliable, high-speed internet. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a real difference in Michigan, and I’m going to make sure that we continue to make critical investments that set our state up for success.”