Yesterday, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $4.6 billion in grant awards across the nation for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG), made possible through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). CPRG is a one-time grant opportunity for states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.

SACE is pleased that CPRG will fund nearly $430 million in projects awarded to entities in North and South Carolina. The grants are being awarded on a competitive basis, and EPA deemed two entities in our region to have demonstrated nationally excellent programs: the Central Midlands Council of Governments in South Carolina, and the State of North Carolina (in coalition with the states of SC, VA, and MD). 

The Central Midlands Council of Governments’ grant award will provide more than $8 million to establish the Community Change Microgrants program, which will provide matching funds to leverage local finances to install up to 10 municipal solar energy systems and up to 5 “smart surfaces” projects that mitigate urban heat island effect. These high-visibility projects will serve as a pilot that is expected to attract additional investment and create paid workforce training opportunities. 

The North Carolina grant award will provide more than $421 million to be shared by the states of NC, SC, VA, and MD for land conservation efforts that will naturally sequester carbon across 21 projects that will “protect and restore high-carbon polluted coastal habitats and peatlands and manage the protection, use, and restoration of forested land.”

These CPRG awards rose to the top from applications all across the country that were judged competitively by EPA. The $4.6 billion represents the one and only award announcement of the CPRG competitive grants program. This grant program was one of many crucial programs enacted by the IRA, the largest-ever climate and clean energy policy. Other key IRA programs include tax credits for clean energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles; residential rebates for home energy efficiency and efficient electric appliances; the Solar For All program to provide solar for low-income households; and innovative financing programs for clean energy for households, businesses, and utility companies. Altogether, the CPRG grants and other IRA programs are reducing harmful pollution and allowing residents and businesses to have options to keep bills lower, while demonstrating the government can accomplish major progress on big problems like the climate crisis. The overwhelming majority of Southeast residents supports more governmental action to take on climate change and promote the transition to clean energy –  CPRG and the other IRA programs represent President Biden and Congress delivering on this priority.

SACE is thrilled that these CPRG awards will join with the other measures of progress on advancing clean energy and combating the climate crisis in our region, while strengthening local economies, providing good jobs, and reducing public health risks