EPA New England Awards $4M to State of Rhode Island and the Providence Metropolitan Area for Comprehensive, Economy

Rhode Island will receive $3 million and the Providence metropolitan area will receive $1 million made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act

August 30, 2023

BOSTON (August 30, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 1 is awarding a total of $4 million from the agency's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program to the State of Rhode Island and one metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in Rhode Island.

Awards given to the State of Rhode Island as well as the MSA of Providence-Warwick will fund the development of plans and innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies. Working in tandem with other programs also funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, CPRG provides flexible planning resources to local governments, states, Tribes, and territories for climate solutions that protect communities from pollution and advance environmental justice.

"Congratulations to the State of Rhode Island and to the Providence metropolitan area for receiving a total of $4 million to develop comprehensive strategies to address climate change, reduce local air pollution, and build clean energy economies in their communities," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, underserved and overburdened communities will be meaningfully engaged to ensure they benefit from the creation of good jobs, lower energy costs, and cleaner air through the climate pollution mitigation measures planned through these grants."

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) applied for these funds on behalf of the State of Rhode Island and is among 46 states across the nation that will be receiving up to $3 million in planning grant funds. The census-designated MSA of Providence-Warwick is among more than 70 metropolitan areas across the nation eligible to receive up to $1 million each in planning grant funds and includes communities in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission will administer the funds in Providence as the lead agency. The lead agency for each state and MSA will use the funds to update existing climate, energy, or sustainability plans, or to develop new plans in collaboration with municipalities and communities across the state and metropolitan areas and conduct meaningful public engagement on the plan, focusing on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies, programs and projects outlined in the CPRG planning grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

On March 1, EPA announced the availability of these funds, which are the first series of climate pollution funding opportunities for states, local governments, territories and Tribes under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act. The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities, and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.

Climate plans will include:

More information

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances

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If you have questions about the CPRG program, please contact your EPA regional representative or email [email protected].