By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a significant step forward in its “Investing in America” agenda. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to support community-driven solutions to the climate crisis. The grants will fund projects across 30 states, including one tribe, to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from key sectors: transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture/natural and working lands, and waste and materials management.
President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act established a groundbreaking program, and this funding is assisting 45 states, numerous metro areas, tribes, and territories in developing climate action plans. Officials said the initiative represents the most extensive effort to promote local climate action nationwide.
The latest grants will support projects deploying technologies and programs to cut greenhouse gases and other pollutants and build the infrastructure for a clean energy future. Administration officials expect these efforts to drive economic growth, create jobs, and support workforce training programs.
The White House said the selected projects should achieve significant cumulative greenhouse gas reductions by 2030. The projects could also reduce emissions by up to 971 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050, comparable to the energy use of 5 million average homes each year for over 25 years.
Later this summer, the EPA plans to announce an additional $300 million in funding for Tribes, Tribal consortia, and territories under the same program.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the selections in Pittsburgh. The Keystone State’s Department of Environmental Protection will receive over $396 million through a competitive grant program for the RISE PA project to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, nearly $500 million will go to California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District for transportation and freight decarbonization initiatives.
“President Biden believes in the power of community-driven solutions to fight climate change, protect public health, and grow our economy. Thanks to his leadership, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will deliver unprecedented resources to states, local governments, and tribes to fund the solutions that work best in their communities,” Regan added.
This federal funding for RISE PA is one of the largest grants Pennsylvania has ever received, Shapiro stated. “It will help reduce toxic air pollution, create thousands of jobs, and continue Pennsylvania’s legacy of energy leadership,” he insisted.
“President Biden’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants put local governments in the driver’s seat to develop climate solutions that work for their communities,” stated John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy.
Added Ali Zaidi, the White House National Climate Advisor, “Today’s transformational investments will empower governors and mayors to seize opportunities for economic growth and climate action, supporting community priorities while advancing our national climate goals.”
The EPA said it selected the projects through a competitive process, reviewing nearly 300 applications that collectively requested almost $33 billion in funding. The 25 successful applications will receive federal support to implement local and regional solutions that can serve as models for others tackling the climate crisis.
Examples of selected projects include:
- The Montana Forest, Community, and Working Landscapes Climate Resiliency Project will enhance forest management, urban forestry, wildfire mitigation, and soil health improvement.
- The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will promote climate-smart agriculture, reduce agricultural waste, improve energy efficiency, and deploy solar energy in commercial, industrial, and low-income households.
- The Clean Corridor Coalition’s ZE-MHDV Infrastructure project along the I-95 Corridor will deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure and support workforce development in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland.
- Michigan’s Accelerating Siting, Zoning, and Permitting of 60% Renewable Energy project will provide incentives and technical assistance to local and Tribal governments to accelerate renewable energy adoption.
- The Atlantic Conservation Coalition will fund efforts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia to leverage the carbon sequestration power of natural and working lands.
The White House said the projects are crucial for meeting Biden’s commitment to reduce climate pollution by over 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. They are expected to deliver substantial public health benefits, improve climate resilience, and create economic opportunities, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants also advance the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, ensuring that 40% of the benefits of federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. After meeting all legal and administrative requirements, the EPA said it anticipates awarding funds later this year.
Thes grants will complement other national climate strategies, including the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, efforts to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035, the Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
