This action approves an award in the amount of $1,000,000 under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to centralina council of governments to develop or update existing regional climate mitigation plans…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046) provides $1,000,000 to the Centralina Council of Governments to develop and update regional climate mitigation plans for the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area. The key deliverables include a Priority Climate Action Plan due by March 2024, a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan due by Summer 2025, and a status report at the end of the 4-year grant period in Summer 2027. These plans will identify greenhouse gas and co-pollutant reductions over the lifetime of the measures, on an annual basis, and specifically for low-income and disadvantaged communities. The award also supports engagement with stakeholders, including educating the public on the co-benefits of emissions reduction, and coordinating with technical and equity advisors, consultants, and sub-awardees to refine the plans based on public input.

This action approves an award in the amount of $1,000,000 under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to centralina council of governments to develop or update existing regional climate mitigation plans to address greenhouse gas 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 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 priority climate action plan - march 2024, comprehensive climate action plan- summer 2025 and providing a status report - summer 2027. The deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the four-year program period, including: a priority climate action plan, due march 1, 2024; a comprehensive climate action plan, 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 priority climate action plan and comprehensive climate action plan that identifies: tons of pollution (greenhouse gas and CO-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures; tons of pollution (greenhouse gas and CO-pollutants) reduced annually; and tons of pollution (greenhouse gas and CO-pollutants) reduced with respect to low-income and disadvantaged communities. Other expected outcomes include priority climate action plan project management plan, priority climate action plan stakeholder engagement plan and measure pollutants through data analysis. The intended beneficiaries include low income and disadvantaged communities of the area of charlotte, gastonia north carolina. Work with technical advisors, equity advisors, consultants and subawardees to engage a variety of stakeholders to influence plan contents include: educating the general stakeholders and public about CO-benefits of GHG emission reduction measures and benefits of climate planning; lead full project team to create outputs, VET through engagement and refine based on inputs.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 priority climate action plan - march 2024, comprehensive climate action plan- summer 2025 and providing a status report - summer 2027 subrecipient:work with technical advisors, equity advisors, consultants and subawardees to engage a variety of stakeholders to influence plan contents - educate general stakeholders and public about CO-benefits of GHG emission reduction measures and benefits of climate planning - lead full project team to create outputs, VET through engagement and refine based on inputs.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 pcap project management plan, pcap stakeholder engagement plan and measure pollutants through data analysis. The intended beneficiaries include low income and disadvantaged communities of the area of charlotte, gastonia north carolina