This assistance agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the maryland department of the environment (MDE) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation…

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was awarded a $3,000,000 Cooperative Agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046). The funding will support the development of a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan, in collaboration with local governments and tribal nations. Key activities include identifying and implementing greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects, conducting community engagement with low-income and disadvantaged populations, and producing three deliverables: a Priority Climate Action Plan, a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, and a final status report. The intended outcomes are to reduce greenhouse gas and co-pollutant emissions, with a focus on benefits to overburdened communities. This EPA grant program provides funding to state, local, and tribal governments for climate action planning and implementation.

This assistance agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the maryland department of the environment (MDE) 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. 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). MDE will use grant funding to add personnel to augment its existing climate change program staff to build much-needed capacity in outreach, engagement, facilitation, climate justice, and local policy. These staff will enable MDE to work with local governments and other stakeholders to identify and implement greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects. 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. Expected outcomes include a pcap and ccap that identify: 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 maryland, including the many minority, low-income, and limited english proficiency communities that are overburdened by the exposure of pollution.