The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program funded by the Inflation Reduction Action (IRA) and administered by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided $5 billion in formula grants to requesting states, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for regional municipal coordination, tribes and territories to develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The first phase of implementing the CPRG program was for recipients of the funding to develop “Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) that identify GHG reduction priority measures to reduce GHG emissions. Building off the PCAPs, States and MSAs are developing Comprehensive Climate Action Plans due in 2025.”
Completing these climate action plans was an opportunity to plan strategically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it was also an important effort to best position the recipients of the formula funds to pursue competitive Climate Pollution Reduction Grant implementation funding. The priority plans’ requirements were to conduct a GHG inventory, identify priority GHG reduction measures, include low-income/disadvantaged community benefits, and review authority to implement. While not required, PCAPs were encouraged to include a benefits analysis, look at intersections with other funding availability, and consider a workforce planning analysis. Based on 80 Metropolitan Statistical Area Priority Climate Action Plans there are three main takeaways for US cities, towns and villages:
1. The three most frequently discussed Priority GHG Reduction Measures were renewable energy installation, electric vehicle deployment, and increasing energy efficiency. While these strategies will come as a surprise to no one, the three PCAPs that have the greatest emphasis on these GHG reduction measures have scalable and replicable lessons for local climate action.
In El Paso, TX Metro Area, renewable energy is a lens for intersectional climate action
98.75 percent of the PCAPs mention “Renewable Energy” at least once. The El Paso metro area plan, led by the City of El Paso, mentioned renewable energy 97 times. “Install Renewable Energy Systems” was an independent priority measure that included project ideas like installing solar as shade structures (e.g., over parking lots, canals, etc.), incentivizing private solar installations, and promoting solar batteries. This plan also discusses the intersectionality of energy as a decarbonization strategy. Renewable energy came up as central to the priority measure to “increase energy efficiency and decarbonize buildings” because electrified buildings require renewable energy sources to be carbon-free.
The plan also discusses increasing renewable energy generation as a critically important element of clean transportation. It notes that emissions-free electricity is a critical component of electric vehicle deployment to constitute a true clean transportation solution. Additionally, the plan recognized workforce development opportunities as part of renewable energy system installation and maintenance and clearly identified the opportunity to benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities because the cost of renewable energy is typically lower after installation. The full plan and priority GHG reduction measure can be found here.
Albuquerque, NM Metro Area highlighted how electric vehicle deployment can center equity by prioritizing frontline communities in the strategy selection
Ninety-five percent of the PCAPs mention “electric vehicles. ” The Albuquerque, NM Metro Area PCAP, led by the City of Albuquerque, mentions EVs the most with 86 mentions of the phrase. The Alburquerque plan outlines strategies that promote equitable deployment of EVs through electric vehicle rideshare options that benefit frontline communities, by prioritizing municipal fleet electrification of vehicles that operate in frontline communities and by partnering with Central New Mexico Community College to electrify the community college fleets. Each of these strategies starts with the real intersections of frontline communities with EVs and can potentially be a model for other communities in reimaging what centering equity in transportation electrification can mean.
Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area recognizes the financial benefits of high-impact GHG reduction strategies
Ninety percent of the plans mentioned energy efficiency and/or weatherization strategies in the Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area, led by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments; priority measures included residential and public building energy efficiency improvements. The plan states:
“Access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing for residents is a priority in East Central Iowa. Energy efficiency improvements for housing not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also reduce energy consumption and costs impacting the affordability of housing. Energy efficiency improvements could be made in all types of housing throughout the region. A residential energy efficiency program could leverage existing housing assistance programs and expand access to federal and state programs that incentivize energy efficiency improvements through tax credits and rebates.”
The quote illustrates how lower utility costs achieved through energy efficiency can help reduce the energy burden in the affordable housing stock.
2. Many priority climate action plans were very intentional in their attempts to center equity and justice in climate actions. Several best practices emerged that municipalities could consider when leading or partnering on the development of the CPRG comprehensive climate action plans and local climate action implementation.
Collaborative governance in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metro Area gives a methodology for procedural justice
The Clean Air Coalition Sarasota-Manatee Region PCAP was among the 59% of MSA PCAPs that mentioned community-based organizations. While this was not a requirement of the process, partnership with community-based organizations is a tangible and practical way to align with folks on the ground who can be most impacted by climate change and climate solutions. Led by Sarasota County, FL:
“The PCAP identified the low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDAC) and analyzed the socioeconomics of the area in comparison to the region. Community engagement sessions were specifically calibrated to LIDAC areas. Community priorities were identified through workshops with community-based organizations with a history of working with low-income and disadvantaged communities and through a community-wide survey”. The full plan and priority GHG reduction measure can be found here.
Clear metrics for equitable and just implementation were found in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area plan
While 90% of the PCAPs mentioned “environmental justice,” approximately half of those were merely referencing the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool which supported the MSA in identifying low-income and disadvantaged communities. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments led the development of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area plan. This PCAP includes an entire section on measuring “equity and environmental justice” to ensure that the PCAP measures support the “resilience and well-being of” Justice40 Census tract communities. The full plan and priority GHG reduction measure can be found here. The full plan and priority GHG reduction measure can be found here.
3. Planning is an essential first step, but plans can sit on the shelf. Implementing climate action plans is essential for ensuring the existence, safety and sustainability of cities, towns and villages.
EPA recently announced $4.3 billion for CPRG implementation discretionary grant winners, with only 25 of 300 entities receiving funding. Of the selected applications, 44% include municipal government partners. Examples of funded projects include:
- Austin, TX, will lead regional coordination to expand transportation services, anticipating the construction of multimodal transit networks that include light rail.
- New Haven, CT, will build a geothermal system at Union Station to provide heating and cooling to the station and surrounding mixed-income housing.
- New Orleans, LA, received funding for a diversity of projects, including expanding active transportation, upgrading municipal buildings, planting trees to reduce heat and supporting a building performance standard.
Learn more about these three funded projects, along with the other 22 successful grant applications, here.
So, what’s next?
The IRA-funded CPRG planning will build on the work of the PCAPs to develop Comprehensive Climate Action Plans. These plans are due in mid-2025. These plans will be more extensive in that the CCAPs require GHG reduction targets, benefits analysis, intersection with other available funding and a workforce planning analysis. Identifying and securing funding sources will continue to be important for communities in carrying out their plans.
If this PCAP research is a nod to what CCAPs may do, there is a continued opportunity to identify intersectional, equity-centered, and implementable GHG reduction measures. Continue to follow the CPRG program on the EPA website here.
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