U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $3 million in grants to Missouri and Nebraska to cut climate pollution using innovative control strategies.
EPA earlier announced $3 million is available in first allotment funding through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act. All 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are eligible for the grants, according to a March 27 news release.
"These $3 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grants will allow Missouri and Nebraska to plan for climate impacts with the speed in which this pressing issue demands," EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister said in the news release. "We hope that all states will follow their lead in leveraging the historic Inflation Reduction Act funds to protect communities and create jobs."
Under the the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, EPA supports the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition the nation to a clean energy economy, the release reported.
The Inflation Reduction Act includes historic funding to combat climate change while creating good-paying jobs and advancing environmental justice, according to the release.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy elected to participate in the program which provides flexible planning resources for development and implementation of scalable solutions that protect people from pollution and advance environmental justice, the release said. Both departments plan to use the grants to develop climate action plans in collaboration with municipalities and organizations, and to conduct meaningful engagement, especially with low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Later this year, EPA plans to launch a $4.6 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program implementation competition for projects and initiatives outlined in the climate action plans developed using funding from the planning grants, the release reported. Missouri and Nebraska will be eligible to receive funds from the competition, as will other states that submitted their intention to apply before the March 31 deadline.
