This action provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) in the amount of $3,000,000 to south carolina department of health and environmental control (SCDHEC) to develop a comprehensive,…

This action provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) in the amount of $3,000,000 to south carolina department of health and environmental control (SCDHEC) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan in collaboration with air pollution control districts, and 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. The south carolina office of resilience (SCOR), serving as the CO-lead for the grant, will work with SC dhec to establish the 'palmetto air quality COLLABORATIVE' (COLLABORATIVE) to convene state agencies, professional associations, non-profits, and local stakeholders to develop implementable measures for lowering air emissions, ensuring clean air, strengthening the economy, engaging communities, and capitalizing on workforce development opportunities. Through this grant, south carolina will develop its first statewide greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan.activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce climate. The COLLABORATIVE will begin by assessing existing plans and resources at state and local levels, including but not limited to the statewide resilience plan, state energy plan, green infrastructure plan, and several inventories and climate action plans that have been conducted by local governments (city of charleston, charleston county, city of columbia, richland county, city of greenville). A targeted stakeholder engagement plan will be developed. The COLLABORATIVE will develop action teams to focus on sector-specific and cross-cutting topics of interest, needs of various industries and sectors, and resources and tools that can guide the state forward. Participants in the COLLABORATIVE or action teams will include, but are not limited to, the south carolina office of regulatory staff energy office, south carolina's interagency electric vehicle working group led by the south carolina department of transportation, SC ports authority, and metropolitan areas in south carolina receiving separate funds under this grant program.subrecipient:the subaward to the ports authority will be to complete a ports greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The subaward to the south carolina office of resilience will be to help lead the outcomes and outputs of this grant including the greenhouse gas inventories for both the primary climate action plan and the comprehensive climate action plan. 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; improved understanding of GHG pollution by SC state agencies, policy makers, engaged stakeholders, and the public; improved staff capacity to implement workforce development policies related to climate plans; increased public awareness of project and results; enhanced community engagement; increased economic benefits; increased climate resilience; and high-quality jobs created. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of and visitors to south carolina. SC dhec and SCOR will use the climate and economic justice screening tool to identify low-income and disadvantaged communities