Local, state and tribal governments are getting a total of $4.3 billion from the federal government for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on July 22.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. Monday’s announcement marks the second and final phase of the program. In the first phase, the EPA provided $250 million in noncompetitive grants to communities to develop plans to drive down greenhouse gas emissions.
The second phase, however, was competitive, with the EPA receiving almost 300 applications requesting a total of nearly $33 billion.
Of the 25 applicants awarded funds, 11 are municipalities, municipal agencies or groups of municipalities. The grants “put local governments in the driver’s seat to develop climate solutions that work for their communities,” John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for international climate policy, said in a statement.
