Cooperative Agreement 00E03476

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO DEVELOP REGIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION PLANS TO ADDRESS GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS AND REDUCTION MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA AND TO CONDUCT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH LOW- INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND COORDINATE WITH GEOGRAPHICALLY PROXIMATE TRIBES AS APPROPRIATE. THE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED ANNUALLY; TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED WITH RESPECT TO LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; ENHANCED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; IMPROVED AMBIENT AIR QUALITY; HEALTH BENEFITS ACHIEVED, AND OTHERS. ACTIVITIES:IN GENERAL, ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT, UPDATING, AND EVALUATION OF PLANS TO REDUCE CLIMATE POLLUTION (I.E., TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS AND/OR ENHANCE CARBON SINKS). SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ENHANCING EXISTING WORK BY PROVIDING METROPOLITAN REGION-SPECIFIC INSIGHTS FOR THE STATE'S IDENTIFIED GREENHOUSE GAS MEASURES. THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN PLAN WILL COVER A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE 15-COUNTY MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL-BLOOMINGTON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA. COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT WILL BE CRUCIAL, ENSURING THE RESOURCES ARE RELEVANT, EQUITABLE, AND APPLICABLE ACROSS JURISDICTIONS. TO SUPPORT INTERGOVERNMENTAL ENGAGEMENT AND COORDINATION, THE COUNCIL PROPOSES TO FORM A STEERING COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD OVERSEE 4 DIFFERENT TECHNICAL WORK GROUPS THAT FOCUS ON DIFFERENT DELIVERABLES OF THE GRANT. THE GRANT WILL ALSO SUPPORT SIGNIFICANT ENGAGEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, LOW INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. SUBRECIPIENT:THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE A SUBGRANT OF $100,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (DEED) TO CREATE METRO AREA-FOCUSED ANALYSIS AND REPORTING. ANALYSIS AND PRODUCTS FOR THE METRO AREA WILL PARALLEL THE PRODUCTS PRODUCED FOR THE STATE AS A WHOLE. THIS MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH ENSURES A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS THAT IDENTIFIES CURRENT WORKFORCE DYNAMICS AND FUTURE DEMANDS.OUTCOMES:THREE KEY DELIVERABLES WILL BE PRODUCED AND SUBMITTED OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM PERIOD, INCLUDING: A PRIORITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (PCAP), DUE MARCH 1, 2024; A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CCAP), DUE TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE AWARD; AND A STATUS REPORT, DUE AT THE CLOSE OF THE GRANT PERIOD. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A PCAP AND CCAP THAT IDENTIFIES: TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE MEASURES; TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED ANNUALLY; AND TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED WITH RESPECT TO LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. OTHER EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A STATUS REPORT. THE 2027 STATUS REPORT WILL INCLUDE A GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY USING DATA THROUGH 2024. THE COUNCIL WILL INITIATE INVENTORY DEVELOPMENT IN MONTH 30, WITH A RELEASE OF THE DOCUMENT IN MONTH 48. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE THAT HAS BEEN DEFINED AS COVERING THE 7-COUNTY JURISDICTION OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THE COUNTIES OF SHERBURNE AND CHISAGO IN MINNESOTA, AND THE COUNTIES OF PIERCE AND ST. CROIX IN WISCONSIN. ADDITIONAL BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE LIDAC COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS NEARBY TRIBES.