Project Grant 95317801

DESCRIPTION:THIS GRANT AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL (BMC) TO DEVELOP OR UPDATE EXISTING REGIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION PLANS TO ADDRESS GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS AND REDUCTION MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA AND TO CONDUCT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH LOW- INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND COORDINATE WITH GEOGRAPHICALLY PROXIMATE TRIBES AS APPROPRIATE. WHILE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN THE BALTIMORE-COLUMBIA-TOWSON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA) HAVE MULTIPLE EXISTING CLIMATE ACTION PLANS, MANY ARE NOT UPDATED TO HAVE COMMUNITY-WIDE GHG INVENTORIES OR PLANS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON GHG REDUCTIONS. THE BMC INTENDS TO UNITE THESE EFFORTS WITH THE PRIMARY FOCUS ON REDUCING GHGS. 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). SPECIFICALLY, THE BMC WILL ORGANIZE COMMITTEES TO HELP OVERSEE AND DIRECT PROJECTS, CREATE GHG INVENTORIES TO PRIORITIZE GHG EMISSION REDUCTION MEASURES, AND BUILD FROM THE FOUNDATION OF EXISTING CLIMATE PLANS AND CLIMATE ACTION POLICIES. SUBRECIPIENT:BMC WILL SUBAWARD A PORTION OF THIS GRANT TO ICLEI TO DEVELOP A PRELIMINARY GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY AND PERFORM TECHNICAL ANALYSES. A REGIONAL PLANNING SUBAWARD MAY ALSO BE USED FOR STUDIES, PILOT PROJECTS, MONITORING, DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, OR STAFF TRAINING. 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. OTHER EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED STAFF CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT PLANS AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPROVED AMBIENT AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH BENEFITS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE BALTIMORE-COLUMBIA-TOWSON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA, WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON UNDERDEVELOPED AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.