The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the idaho department of environmental quality (DEQ) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) and air…

The State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been awarded a $3,000,000 Cooperative Agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046) to develop a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) and air quality plan for the state of Idaho. The agreement will fund DEQ to collaborate with local municipalities, air pollution control districts, and tribal governments to create a priority action plan and comprehensive action plan to reduce GHG emissions and air pollution, with a focus on engaging low-income and disadvantaged communities. The University of Idaho's McClure Center for Public Policy Research will receive a subaward to lead stakeholder engagement and communications efforts throughout the four-year grant period.

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the idaho department of environmental quality (DEQ) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) and air quality 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 ghgs and harmful air pollutants and to conduct meaningful engagement with low-income and disadvantaged communities. Idaho's action plan will be based on stakeholder engagement and collaboration and include a focused list of voluntary measures that are near-term, high-priority, and implementation-ready in order to reduce GHG emissions and enhance carbon sinks. Activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce GHG emissions and/or enhance carbon sinks. DEQ will lead the collaboration and coordination with state agencies to develop the plans, including monthly meetings with the governor's office of energy and mineral resources and the idaho transportation department and additional meetings and cross-agency collaboration, as needed. The mcclure center for public policy research (university of idaho) will receive a subaward to lead communications with local and tribal governments, convening meetings and/or conversations throughout the development of plans. The mcclure center will construct and develop a contacts list that includes members of low-income and disadvantaged communities identified by DEQ. Subrecipient:the mcclure center for public policy research at the university of idaho will be significantly involved in the execution of this grant through a subaward. Generally, DEQ will be responsible for the technical components of this workplan while the mcclure center will be responsible for the stakeholder engagement. Outcomes:three key deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the 4-year program period, including: a priority action plan (PAP), due march 1, 2024; a comprehensive action plan (cap), due two years from the date of the award; and a status report, due at the close of the grant period. The mcclure center, in coordination with DEQ, intends to create and implement an outreach and engagement plan for each deliverable to ensure that information is disseminated to stakeholders. Expected outcomes include a PAP and cap 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. Another anticipated outcome for this grant is enhanced engagement with municipalities, state agencies, and other stakeholders, including low-income and disadvantaged communities. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of and visitors to idaho. DEQ will evaluate the extent to which voluntary GHG reduction measures deliver CO-pollutant emission reductions and other benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities.