Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Manager
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EPA Announces Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program Awards
The Biden-Harris administration recently announced the award of $4.3 billion in implementation grants under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. The 25 selected applications will fund projects in 30 states including one Tribe. Eight of the selected applications were submitted by coalitions of multiple entities that will collaborate to implement the proposed projects. Funded projects are expected to abate up to 971 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2050, working across six sectors:
- Transportation, representing $1.18 billion in CPRG funds
- Electric Power, representing $372 million in CPRG funds
- Buildings, representing $1.06 billion in CPRG funds
- Industry, representing $636 million in CPRG funds
- Agriculture/Natural and Working Lands, representing $931 million in CPRG funds
- Waste and Materials Management, representing $121 million in CPRG funds
The EPA expects to announce additional awards of up to $300 million for Tribes, Tribal consortia, and territories later this summer.
EPA Announces Selections Under Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program
On July 25, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $325 million in funding under the Community Change Grants Program. This program has two tracks:
- Track I applications will focus on multi-faceted applications with Climate Action and Pollution Reduction Strategies to meaningfully improve the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. Track I awards are expected to be $10-20 million each.
- Track II applications will facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental processes to advance environmental and climate justice. Track II awards are expected to be $1-3 million each.
July’s selected applications—21 in total—are the first in a rolling process. Through the end of 2024, EPA will award almost $2 billion.
Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates Updates
States are launching program activities with their allocations from the IRA-funded Home Energy Rebates Program. Allocations are delivered through two subprograms—one for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) and the other for Home Efficiency Rebates (HER). To date, New York has launched its HEAR program and Wisconsin has launched its HER program. More information on all states’ activities can be found here, and a summary is provided below:
- 49 states and territories have applied to DOE for early administrative or full program funding.
- 22 states have applied to DOE for full funding to launch their programs.
- These states and territories have applied for $2.9 billion in funding.
Rhode Island Completes Phase 1 of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program
Rhode Island (RI) is the first state to complete Phase 1 under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program (NEVI). NEVI provides dedicated funding to States to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. Initially, funding is directed to designated Alternative Fuel Corridors for EVs, particularly along the Interstate Highway System. When the national network is built out, funding may be used on any public road or in other publicly accessible locations. RI has completed the installation of four new Level 3 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) along Interstate 95. Currently, there are a total of eight DCFCs and six Dual-Port Level 2 charging stations located along the Alternative Fuel Corridor on I-95 in RI. Phase 2, expanding infrastructure across public roads and other accessible locations, is expected to begin in Fall of 2024.