Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future is part of a coalition selected by the EPA to receive a $450 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to tackle climate change, improve air quality, and advance environmental justice.
BOSTON (JULY 22, 2024) – As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of the New England Heat Pump Accelerator to receive a $450 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. The grant aims to implement community-driven solutions addressing climate change, reducing air pollution, advancing environmental justice, and accelerating America's clean energy transition.
The New England Heat Pump Accelerator is led by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in partnership with Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. This initiative will fund projects across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island to accelerate the adoption of cold-climate air-source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and ground source heat pumps. The project will provide resources for more than 500,000 single-family and multifamily residential buildings.
"President Biden believes in the power of community-driven solutions to fight climate change, protect public health, and grow our economy. Thanks to his leadership, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will deliver unprecedented resources to states, local governments, and Tribes to fund the solutions that work best in their communities," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Selected recipients have put forward ambitious plans to advance sustainable agriculture, deploy clean industrial technologies... creating economic and workforce development opportunities along the way."
"No community should have to worry about a future of heat waves... Today's announcement underscores our commitment to addressing the climate crisis head-on through collaborative...solutions," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "The $450 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant for the New England Heat Pump Accelerator will not only advance our region's clean energy transition... By working together...setting a powerful example..."
"Heat pumps have become a greener...way for Maine people to save money during harsh New England winters," said U.S. Senator Angus King. "Across our state...we are already seeing impacts heat pumps have on minimizing our carbon footprint while maximizing savings...Our state will continue leading in cost-efficient energy thanks to this EPA grant..."
"Mainers rely on fuel oil more than anywhere else in the country. Maine has already made significant progress on turning this high energy burden into an opportunity for climate progress..." said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree.
EPA made its selections through a rigorous grants competition designed to be fair and impartial from nearly 300 applications requesting nearly $33 billion in funding.
The 25 selected applications—from states,...local governments,...—will receive federal funding for local/regional solutions expandable as examples for other entities tackling climate crisis measures achieving significant GHG reductions by 2030/beyond.
When combined estimates provided by all selected applicants would reduce greenhouse gas pollution by up to 971 million metric tons CO2 equivalent by 2050—roughly emissions from 5 million average homes' energy use each year over 25 years.
EPA expects additional $300 million selections under CPRG program for Tribes/consortia/territories later this summer.
State/Tribal/local action is vital delivering President’s commitment reducing climate pollution >50% by 2030 achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050 with innovative measures developed with local input expected achieving substantial public health benefits like reducing extreme heat exposure/improving air quality/reducing lower-income Americans’ energy burden/improving resilience/providing workforce/economic development opportunities particularly low-income/disadvantaged communities.
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants advance President Biden’s historic Justice40 Initiative ensuring >40% overall benefits certain federal investments flow disadvantaged communities marginalized/overburdened pollution funding projects supporting deployment technologies/programs reducing greenhouse gases/harmful pollution building infrastructure/housing/industry/economy needed clean energy future helping businesses capitalize new opportunities/spur economic growth/job creation supporting training programs preparing workers funds expected awarded later this year once legal/administrative requirements satisfied.
Many proposed projects contained selected applications/planning grant funding under CPRG program complement Biden-Harris Administration’s historic federal actions/national strategies including: U.S National Blueprint Transportation Decarbonization Administration efforts achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035/make zero emissions construction common practice by 2030 Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap U.S Buildings Decarbonization Blueprint Administration’s climate-smart agriculture efforts/Nature Based Solutions Roadmap/U.S Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan/National Climate Resilience Framework/more.
