The EPA is actively assisting in the creation of climate action plans as well as the rapid implementation of investment-ready policies, programs, and projects that will minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program will help federal departments, states, local communities, Tribal governments, companies, and other partners fully utilize the unprecedented CPRG funds. Let’s learn more about these grants in this article.

What Is Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program?

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program is intended to provide states, local governments, tribes, and territories with flexible support irrespective of the stage in their environmental strategy and execution process. Planning funding can be used to update or create new environmental, energy, or sustainability plans.

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program will give funds to local governments, states, tribes, and territories to help them design and implement strategies to lower emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollutants. Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act authorizes a $5 billion commitment to assist states, municipalities, air pollution management agencies, tribes, and groups of tribes in developing and implementing robust, local greenhouse gas reduction policies. This two-stage grant program provides financing for non-competitive planning awards of $250 million and competitive implementation grants of $4.6 billion. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program consists of three parts:

1. Planning Grants

$250 million is accessible to all states and territories, as well as many municipal governments and tribal countries, to establish plans to decrease climate pollution.

2. Implementation Grants

$4.607 billion to fund implementing (some) of those initiatives.

3. Administrative Funding

The federal government may get up to $142 million to administer the program and help state, municipal, and tribal authorities in their climate initiatives.

What Activities Are Eligible For The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program?

The CPRG planning award money is only available for initiatives directly related to developing, updating, or evaluating state, local, tribal, or territorial strategies for reducing climate pollution (i.e., lowering GHG emissions and improving carbon sinks). In general, funds can be utilized for the following purposes:

• Staffing and contractual costs required to create the deliverables outlined in this document;
• Organizing and carrying out meetings, workshops, and gatherings to promote coordination between and among all levels of government, the general public, and important stakeholders;
• Outreach and education to stakeholders and the general public
• Subawards to municipalities, air pollution control agencies, regional planning organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, and other organizations.
• The costs associated with modeling and analysis include purchasing or licensing software, data, or tools.
• Investigations, assessments, data collection, and other activities were necessary to create the requisite deliverables.
• Activities involving evaluation and metrics tracking.
• Supplies (e.g., office supplies, software, printing, etc.)
• Incidental expenses associated with the above tasks, such as but not limited to travel, membership fees, and indirect costs.
• Other permitted activities as necessary to complete the required deliverables.

Why Is The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program Important To States, Local Governments, And Tribal Governments?

1. It allows subnational leaders to tackle their specific issues and opportunities.

One of the most exciting points of the CPRG program is the freedom it gives states, local governments, and tribes to develop economic and industrial strategies that reduce emissions while meeting their specific demands. It meets conditions where they are; although several have been pioneers with sectoral or economy-wide programs to reduce climate pollution, others have yet to accomplish the sort of progress we would like to see in every jurisdiction and community across the country. As a result, the CPRG program may be instrumental in supporting new clean energy discoveries in new states.

2. It will help to establish crucial government capabilities for the emerging energy economy.

State, local, and tribal governments around the country require extra capacity to accelerate their clean energy accomplishments. This has been especially visible as subnational government agencies attempt to capitalize on extensive new federal funding options available to them and their businesses, communities, and customers. The CPRG program funds state (including city, county, and tribal) agencies to engage staff and consultants, strengthen administrative capacity, and develop the tools needed to advance climate action, such as high-quality greenhouse gas inventories. Already, the EPA has moved to address this issue by immediately providing capacity-building plan funds to each state and territorial authority, as well as many Tribal countries and several of the largest urban statistical areas.

3. It offers the opportunity to invest in similar environmental and economic results.

Congress created the CPRG program to require all applicants to demonstrate how their proposals will reduce climate pollution overall and in disadvantaged communities. The program also falls under President Biden’s Justice 40 Initiative, which requires the EPA to ensure that at least 40% of the program’s benefits are given to underserved communities. In addition, the EPA has previously reminded state and local governments that meaningful participation with these communities is required when developing climate strategies. In addition, the EPA’s initial CPRG guidance encourages eligible entities to develop plans that “reduce carbon emissions while developing the renewable energy economy in a manner that helps all Americans, offers new employees possibilities, and successfully tackles injustices related to the environment in disadvantaged communities.”

The investments that the CPRG program will make in state, local, and tribal governments are critical both for their own sake and for the “force-multiplying” effects they will have on subnational governments’ ability to take advantage of the full suite of climate expenditures available through the IRA, BIL, and CHIPS & Science Act (hundreds of billions of dollars).

To Conclude

EPA promotes the development and implementation of technologies and solutions that will reduce GHGs and hazardous pollutants in the atmosphere, and it will also convert America to an economy powered by clean energy that benefits all Americans through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. CPRG planning funding can help all 46 states that have applied for them make headway right away, and additional capacity-building investments will come. The chance to compete for a more extensive implementation award can provide governors’ offices, important agencies, legislators, and advocacy networks with a focal point of organization and momentum, ensuring that additional states pursue ambitious policies and achieve major clean energy breakthroughs.

Also Read: UN Climate Report: It Is Now or Never