From the EPA Press Office
NEW YORK (March 30, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will award $3 million for New York to plan innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across the state.
Earlier this month, EPA announced the availability of the funds, which represent the first funding going to states, local governments, Tribes, and territories from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Later this year, EPA will launch a competition for $4.6 billion in funding to implement projects and initiatives included in the plans. New York will be eligible to receive that implementation funding because it has opted in to receive the planning grant.
New York is among the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that are eligible to receive $3 million each in EPA Climate Pollution Reduction planning grant funds. New York will use the funds to augment climate planning in collaboration with municipalities statewide and to conduct meaningful engagement with communities, including overburdened communities. throughout the state.
New York State’s Climate Act passed in 2019 is among the most ambitious climate laws in the nation. New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors, and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency investments are directed to disadvantaged communities.
Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. New York’s participation in the CPRG program will support its ongoing efforts to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions and ensure all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition.
About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program
The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities, and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include:
- Greenhouse gas emissions inventories;
- Emissions projections and reduction targets;
- Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities;
- Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act;
- Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy; and
- Future government staffing and budget needs.
Next Steps
This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies created by the CPRG planning grants, programs, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.
By summer 2023, EPA Regional Offices expect to award and administer the funding agreements once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
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