The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the city of rapid city, south dakota to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 awarded a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement to the City of Rapid City, South Dakota under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046). The grant will fund the development of a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan, in collaboration with local agencies and tribes, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutants. Key planned activities include creating greenhouse gas inventories and projections, developing quantified emissions reduction measures, leveraging funding opportunities, and conducting extensive public outreach and engagement with low-income and disadvantaged communities. Expected outcomes include reduced air pollution, improved public health, increased energy efficiency, and enhanced economic development. The City anticipates providing subawards to local universities, councils of government, economic development organizations, municipalities, schools, and nonprofits to support this climate action planning effort.

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the city of rapid city, south dakota to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan in collaboration with air pollution control districts, large and small municipalities statewide, and tribal governments that will support actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and harmful air pollutants and to conduct meaningful engagement with low-income and disadvantaged communities. While the rapid city metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is one of the most remote urban areas in the united states, the area has not been sheltered by effects of climate change. The impacts include instances of increasing drought, hotter temperatures, severe storms, and greater wildfire and flood risks. Over the past four decades, the average annual acreage consumed by wildfires in the united states has quadrupled. This alarming trend has affected rapid city and neighboring regions, as they are now confronted with a higher frequency of poor-air quality days. To address climate change, the city of rapid city will identify strategies to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. Expected sectors of emissions to be targeted include transportation, energy, land use (growth and development), construction and industry, solid waste management, and tourism.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). Specifically, the city of rapid city will create comprehensive GHG inventories and projections and develop quantified GHG reduction measures, leverage funding opportunities, and conduct an extensive outreach program. As IT is anticipated that public education and outreach will be a large component of this project, the city of rapid city will collaborate with partners to help engage, educate, and inform the general public about this issue and why IT is important for our community to understand and mitigate GHG emissions.subrecipient:the city of rapid city anticipates giving subawards to the south dakota school of mines and technology and black hills state university; black hills council of local government; elevate rapid city; local municipalities; and local schools, and nonprofits.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. 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: improved ambient air quality and health benefits; increased public awareness of the project and results; improved staff capacity to track GHG emission and policy implementation; increased energy efficiently; and improved economic development. The intended beneficiaries include all residents and visitors of the south dakota area, with an emphasis on low income and disadvantaged communities to promote environmental equity. Planned stakeholder outreach will involve regular communication and scheduled meetings to ensure the involvement of representatives from low-income and disadvantaged communities that may be affected by or benefit from development planned climate actions. Outreach will be conducted through local non-profit organizations and citizen advisory boards that work with low-income and disadvantaged populations in the community.