Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, alongside Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and other state officials, visited Jacobsen’s Farm in Omaha to emphasize the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s (NDEE) receipt of a $307 million EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). This funding is part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.
During the visit, EPA officials observed how farms like Jacobsen’s will benefit from the CPRG funding aimed at supporting clean investments in agriculture within Nebraska.
“EPA is pleased to partner with Governor Pillen and the State of Nebraska to deliver community-driven solutions to address climate change, protect public health, and invest in neighborhoods, family farms, and communities across the Cornhusker state,” McCabe said. “The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s innovative plan will reduce emissions from agricultural production in rural communities, deliver financial assistance to low-income residents for energy efficiency upgrades, and reduce harmful pollution. These programs will pay public health dividends for generations to come and will provide critical information for others across the country to adopt and adapt to address these challenges in their own communities, especially rural communities.”
Governor Pillen expressed gratitude towards the EPA for recognizing Nebraska's unique application. “The public outreach and statewide input that was received through this process allowed us to shape our application to make the greatest impact across the state,” he said. “I am grateful to EPA for recognizing the uniqueness of our application and our great state. This grant will strengthen our rural communities, our agriculture industry, and allow Nebraska to fully realize the potential of full value agriculture. This grant signifies what can be done when we all come together for Nebraska and her citizens.”
EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister praised NDEE's efforts: “Through this grant, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will deliver innovative environmental solutions that work for rural and urban Nebraskans across the Cornhusker State,” she said. “We are proud of the effort undertaken by NDEE to secure this grant and share their goal of partnering with agriculture, industry, and neighborhoods to find common-sense solutions to environmental issues.”
NDEE plans to use the funds for measures such as increasing climate-smart agriculture adoption, reducing agricultural waste from livestock, improving energy efficiency in commercial facilities and low-income households, deploying solar energy solutions, and electrifying irrigation wells.
On July 22, 2024, EPA announced its CPRG selections after a competitive grants process that reviewed nearly 300 applications requesting a total of almost $33 billion in funding. The selected 25 applications—from states, a Tribe, local governments, and coalitions—will receive federal funding for local and regional climate solutions.
These projects aim for significant greenhouse gas reductions by 2030 with an estimated reduction equivalent to emissions from five million average homes' energy use over 25 years by 2050.
EPA anticipates announcing up to an additional $300 million under CPRG for tribes, tribal consortia, and territories soon.
State-level action is crucial for achieving President Biden’s goals of reducing climate pollution by over 50% by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The selected projects are expected to bring substantial public health benefits including reduced exposure to extreme heat; improved air quality; reduced energy burden on lower-income Americans; enhanced climate resilience; workforce development opportunities; particularly benefiting low-income communities.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants support President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aiming at ensuring that disadvantaged communities receive at least 40% of overall benefits from federal investments related to climate change mitigation.
These grants will also fund projects supporting technologies reducing greenhouse gases nationwide while fostering economic growth through new industries’ development.
EPA expects funds disbursement later this year upon meeting all legal requirements.
