Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

These grants are provided under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, 42 U.S. Code § 7437 (or Public Law 117-169, title VI, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2076), which amended the Clean Air Act (CAA) by creating

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program provides significant resources to state, Tribal and local governments to develop plans to reduce carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride; and to implement measures from those plans. Resources available to states, air agencies, municipalities, and Tribes through the planning grants under this program will encourage these entities to create comprehensive pathways for reducing pollution. Implementation grants will provide significant resources to implement projects covered by plans to achieve significant emission reductions and improved air quality.

Section 137(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act defines eligible entities under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program as states, air pollution control agencies, municipalities, Tribes, and groups of any of these entities. Section 302 of the Clean Air Act defines "states" as including the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Consistent with this definition, the funding allocation approach described in this document also includes funding for the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, and four U.S. territories. Section 302 of the Clean Air Act defines "municipality" as a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law. Consistent with Section 137(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act, a group of municipalities, such as a council of governments, may also be considered an eligible entity under this program. Section 302 of the Clean Air Act defines "air pollution control agency" as: (1) A single State agency designated by the Governor of that State as the official State air pollution control agency for purposes of the Clean Air Act. (2) An agency established by two or more States and having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the prevention and control of air pollution. (3) A city, county, or other local government health authority, or, in the case of any city, county, or other local government in which there is an agency other than the health authority charged with responsibility for enforcing ordinances or laws relating to the prevention and control of air pollution, such other agency. (4) An agency of two or more municipalities located in the same State or in different States and having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the prevention and control of air pollution. (5) An agency of an Indian Tribe. Section 302 of the Clean Air Act defines "Indian Tribe" as any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village, which is Federally recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

The Climate Pollution Reduction planning grants will be used to develop plans to reduce carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and other air pollutants. The implementation grants will be used to fund projects to implement activities to achieve reductions covered by associated plans.

For the CPRG planning grants to state and local governments, these grants will run for approximately 4 years ending in CY 2027. For the CPRG planning grants to Tribes, Tribal consortia, and smaller U.S. territories, the grant period is variable, between 2 to 4 years from award. For FY2025, EPA implementation grants will last up to five years.

Discussion with the applicable EPA Regional Office is advised for planning grant applications. EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372- and-section. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c). Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the NOFO. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the NOFO.

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing are described in the NOFOs. The General Competition NOFO is available here: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01/cprg-general-competition-correction.pdf. The Tribes and Territories Competition NOFO is available here: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01/cprg_tribal_nofo_correction_12-18-23_0.pdf. The criteria for awarding planning grants are provided in the guidance on this website https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/climate-pollution-reduction-grants.

For competitive implementation awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the NOFO. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. For non-competitive awards made under this assistance listing, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant.

Extensions are subject to EPA approval.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E - Disputes (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1500/subpart-E), as applicable." For assistance listings for programs that do not ever use competitive selection procedures, include the following statement: "Disputes will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1500/subpart-E), as applicable.