The White House Council on Environmental Quality announced its support for green infrastructure in a Jan. 18 blog, stating that the administration will be prioritizing smart infrastructure to create jobs and build a strong future for U.S. cities. The message acknowledges the cost-effectiveness and water quality benefits of green infrastructure, as well as additional benefits, such as increases in property values. The message also focuses on public–private partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms for investing in green infrastructure.

In September, the Water Environment Federation participated in the White House Conference on Green Stormwater Infrastructure, which the administration hosted to gather input from city managers, mayors, and policy experts on how it could encourage green infrastructure. A report based on this conference is pending release. According to the blog, the administration plans to better align federal agency resources to aid municipalities in building and investing in green infrastructure. It will leverage existing resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In an effort to encourage private financing, the administration will support federal funding resources and EPA’s efforts to increase cities’ flexibility in utilizing creative financing options.