The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the selection of West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVU) to receive $2,486,224 in funding. This grant is part of a broader initiative under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act aimed at reducing climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials. WVU is among 38 selectees across the nation, with the announcement made on July 16, 2024, as part of a $160 million grant rollout.
The EPA estimates that construction materials used in buildings and infrastructure contribute to over 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. "As America continues to build more and thrive under President Biden’s leadership, cleaner construction materials like concrete and steel are increasingly essential for the nation’s prosperity," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "These historic investments will expand market access for a new generation of more climate-friendly construction materials and further grow American jobs that are paving the way to the clean energy economy."
WVU's project will provide technical assistance to regional construction material manufacturers to develop environmental product declarations (EPDs). These declarations help businesses create comprehensive life cycle assessments showing environmental impacts, enhancing their competitiveness in supplying products for federal and institutional projects.
“The grant allows us to continue elevating our energy and sustainability research profile and our commitment to serving communities, as the project focuses on lifting small business in rural and disadvantaged areas in West Virginia and neighboring states,” said Fred King, Vice President for Research at WVU. “We are grateful for the Environmental Protection Agency acknowledging and supporting the hard work and trailblazing research happening at West Virginia University, our state's land-grant, flagship, R1 institution.”
The project will leverage existing WVU networks and partnerships with organizations such as the West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the West Virginia Office of Economic Development.
Environmental product declarations show environmental impacts across a product's life cycle, enabling more sustainable purchasing decisions by allowing buyers to compare products. Investments in data and tools will make high-quality EPDs available for 14 material categories including both new and salvaged or reused materials. These efforts aim to standardize and expand the market for lower greenhouse gas emission construction products.
EPA is also expanding technical assistance opportunities nationwide. The agency will initially offer EPD development support while directing businesses to resources like those provided by the ENERGY STAR Industrial program. Federal agencies can use robust EPD data strengthened by a new label program identifying low carbon construction materials for the growing Buy Clean marketplace.
These initiatives are supported by significant investments from the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The act provides over $2 billion each to both General Services AdministrationExit EPA’s website for using low embodied carbon materials in federal building projects and Federal Highway AdministrationExit EPA’s website for incentivizing low embodied carbon materials in transportation projects.
Selections are contingent upon completing legal requirements with grantees expected to receive funding by late summer.
For more information about EPA’s Grant Program for Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gases in Construction Materials and Products or about how EPA works in West Virginia through its new ArcGIS Story Map tool exploring infrastructure projects funded by EPA investments visit their respective websites.
