Provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the hudson valley regional council (hvrc)

This $3,059,400 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CFDA 66.046) program supports the Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) in implementing greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, and measures identified in the New York State Priority Climate Action Plan. The key activities include:

• Installing biofilters and native plantings at closed landfills in the Mid-Hudson region to reduce fugitive methane emissions
• Conducting methane monitoring at the closed landfills
• Analyzing emissions reductions from the biofilter installations
• Facilitating studies on the solar energy potential of the closed landfill sites
• Sharing knowledge about the project activities with the public

The anticipated outcomes include reduced methane emissions, improved biodiversity and pollinator habitat, preparation for future solar/battery installations, and increased understanding of biofilters for methane reduction at closed landfills. The award will benefit local governments and residents in the Mid-Hudson region, including disadvantaged communities near the closed landfill sites.

Description

The purpose of this award is to provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the hudson valley regional council (hvrc). The recipient will implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects, and measures identified in the new york state priority climate action plan (pcap) developed under a climate pollution reduction grants (cprg) planning grant. Activities conducted through this grant will benefit all residents and visitors to the mid-hudson valley region (including orange, dutchess, ulster, putnam, sullivan, rockland, and westchester counties) through four main objectives: implementation of ambitious measures that will achieve significant cumulative GHG reductions by 2030 and beyond; pursuit of measures that will achieve substantial community benefits, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities; complementing other funding sources to maximize these GHG reductions and community benefits; and, pursuit of innovative policies and programs that are replicable and can be 'scaled up' across multiple jurisdictions. Activities:activities include the installation of biofilters and native plantings at closed landfills in the mid-hudson region of new york, methane monitoring at closed landfills, and an analysis of emissions reductions resulting from the installation of the biofilters. Activities also include facilitating the study of solar energy potential at the closed landfills and sharing knowledge with the public about project activities.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the installation of biofilters and native plantings at closed landfills, collection of methane emissions data, and long-term stewardship plans for each participating landfill site. The expected outcomes include a reduction in the fugitive methane emissions from closed landfills in the mid-hudson region of new york, improved biodiversity and pollinator habitat at the closed landfills, preparation for the future installation of solar arrays or battery storage systems at the closed landfills, and an increased understanding of the potential for biofilters to reduce methane emissions at closed landfills. The intended beneficiaries include local governments in the mid-hudson region of new york seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and the residents of the mid-hudson region (including disadvantaged communities) located near the closed landfills.