The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to virginia department of environmental quality (DEQ) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a $3,000,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CFDA 66.046) program to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The agreement provides funding for VDEQ to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan in collaboration with state, local, and tribal partners. Key deliverables include a Priority Climate Action Plan by March 1, 2024 and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan within two years of the award date. VDEQ will engage with state agencies, regional and local governments, and disadvantaged communities to identify actions to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants. The award will support VDEQ in assisting local governments with developing or updating greenhouse gas inventories and action plans. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to virginia department of environmental quality (DEQ) 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. DEQ will also assist local governments in developing or updating their GHG inventories and action plans. 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). Coordination between DEQ and other key state agencies such as the departments of energy and transportation, among others, will be done through an existing interagency coordination taskforce. DEQ will also coordinate with regional planning organizations in support of this grant and the regional planning grants awarded through the cprg program. DEQ will also employ a robust stakeholder and public outreach and input process to collect ideas and comments from representatives of disadvantaged communities, including collaboration with the seven federally recognized tribes in virginia. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.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 DEQ and coordinating entities will engage state agencies, tribes, regional and local governmental planning organizations, and disadvantaged communities through a series of facilitated workgroup sessions to develop the plans. 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. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of and visitors to virginia. DEQ, working with its office of environmental justice, will engage with residents of low-income and disadvantaged communities in the development of the plans.