WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $4.3 billion in grants to fund projects in 30 states to reduce climate pollution. The money will go to 25 projects targeting greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture, and waste and materials management.
The grants are paid for by the 2022 climate law approved by congressional Democrats. The law, officially known as the Inflation Reduction Act, includes nearly $400 billion in spending and tax credits to accelerate the expansion of clean energy, such as wind and solar power, speeding the nation’s transition from oil, coal and natural gas.
The grants include $396 million to Pennsylvania to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions from cement, asphalt and other materials. EPA Administrator Michael Regan will join Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in Pittsburgh on Monday to announce grant recipients in his state.
Senior EPA leaders will also join Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California on Monday to announce nearly $500 million for transportation and freight decarbonization at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The grants will provide incentives for electric charging equipment, zero-emission freight vehicles and cargo handling equipment conversion to lower emissions.
“President Biden understands that America needs a strong EPA,’’ Regan told reporters Friday, noting the Democratic administration “has made the largest climate investment in history, providing billions of dollars to state, local and tribal governments to tackle climate change with the urgency it demands.’’
The funds “will help implement community-driven solutions that reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice and help accelerate America’s clean energy transition,’’ Regan said.
Shapiro, a Democrat who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick now that Biden has stepped down from the presidential race, said his administration has taken action to address climate change while continuing to create energy jobs.
The grant being announced Monday “is one of the largest federal grants Pennsylvania has ever received,’’ Shapiro said in a statement ahead of Monday’s announcement. The state will work with RISE PA, a new initiative to reduce industrial sector emissions.
Officials said the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will receive $307 million to boost “climate-smart” agriculture and reduce agricultural waste from livestock. The grant will also fund projects to improve energy efficiency in commercial and industrial facilities and low-income households, deploy solar panels and electrify irrigation wells.
Other grants include nearly $250 million to boost electric vehicle infrastructure along Interstate 95 from Maryland to Connecticut. The project will provide charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission vehicles and technical assistance for workforce development along the I-95 corridor, one of the most heavily traveled in the nation.
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine will get $450 million to accelerate the adoption of cold-climate heat pumps and water heaters.
Michigan will get $129 million to accelerate the siting, zoning and permitting of renewable energy.