Several private-sector groups, including the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Landscape Architects, have joined a federal initiative to support development of green infrastructure projects, the White House announced on Oct. 8.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched the Green Infrastructure Collaborative in July, and the departments of Defense, Energy, the Interior and Transportation signed on. The program's new members will help the Obama administration to tap the expertise of the private and non-profit sectors, the White House said.