This assistance agreement provides funding from the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the richmond regional planning district commission (planrva) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate…

The Richmond Regional Planning District Commission (PLANRVA) received a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046). The funding will be used to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan in collaboration with local governments, air pollution control districts, and tribal governments in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan statistical area. The plan will support actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutants, as well as conduct meaningful engagement with low-income and disadvantaged communities. PLANRVA expects to make a small subaward to one of the overlapping planning district commissions to support outreach, facilitation, and representation of participating localities on the project steering committee. Key deliverables over the 4-year grant period include a priority climate action plan, a comprehensive climate action plan, and a final status report.

This assistance agreement provides funding from the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the richmond regional planning district commission (planrva) 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. The richmond metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is fast-growing and diverse, encompassing more than 1.3 million people in rural and urban settings, and is culturally and historically significant to indigenous peoples and african americans. The MSA is also a transportation hub with major roadways, rail lines, and airports for people and goods. The region already faces climate-related challenges, including extreme heat, increased participation, and sea level rise, leaving numerous communities vulnerable. Planning efforts will lead all participating localities to set ambitious GHG reduction targets for the region and focus mitigation priorities on the transportation sector. 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). Planrva will collaborate with MSA jurisdictions, overlapping planning district commissions (PDC), state agencies, tribes, and public and private entities in a united front to create a comprehensive, regional climate action plan. Working with the support of a contractor hired for this grant, planrva will establish the first regional GHG inventory and build technical capacity to continue GHG monitoring and measure-specific reduction analyses in the future. Planrva will conduct effective public and stakeholder engagement to involve diverse socioeconomic and demographic communities in the richmond MSA to raise awareness for the mission and goals of the project over the four-year timeline. Planrva intends to form a steering committee consisting of stakeholder representatives that will meet BI-monthly to review progress, provide guidance, and select GHG measures and reduction targets.subrecipient:planrva expects to make a small subaward to one of the pdcs with localities overlapping the richmond MSA. The subaward will help cover the cost of outreach, facilitiation support, and representing the participating localities within their boundary at steering committee meetings.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 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: improved regional corporation among the MSA local governments and tribes; increased public and stakeholder involvement and awareness through outreach programs; and enhanced climate resilience through renewable energy and multi-model transportation options. The intended beneficiaries include all residents and visitors of the virginia area, including those from all socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds. Priority mitigation projects and measures will be evaluated for their effects on low-income and disadvantaged communities will be assessed using the climate and economic justice screening tool, virginia's department of environmental quality's office of environment justice data, and regional justice data layer