Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks at the Wilmington Convention Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, on May 2, 2024. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
Biden-backed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently allocated $4.3 billion in grants aimed at funding climate pollution reduction projects across 30 states in the US.
AP News reported that it will support 25 initiatives focused on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from various sectors, including transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture, and waste management.
This funding is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark climate law passed by congressional Democrats in 2022.
The Act, which includes nearly $400 billion in spending and tax incentives, is designed to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies such as wind and solar power. The goal is to transition away from fossil fuels, which are significant contributors to climate change.
Among the notable grants is $396 million allocated to Pennsylvania, aimed at reducing industrial emissions from sectors like cement and asphalt. This funding will also support Pennsylvania's efforts to cut greenhouse gases and enhance energy efficiency in its industrial sector.
In addition to Pennsylvania, California will receive nearly $500 million to support transportation and freight decarbonization at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This funding will facilitate the installation of electric charging infrastructure, support zero-emission freight vehicles, and convert cargo handling equipment to reduce emissions.
Other states benefiting from these grants include Nebraska, which will receive $307 million to promote "climate-smart" agriculture and enhance energy efficiency. Lincoln's Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird indicated that this investment could reduce the city's emissions by 77% by 2050.
The grant also aims to provide equitable access to clean energy for low-income residents.
Nearly $250 million will enhance electric vehicle infrastructure along Interstate 95, and $450 million will fund cold-climate heat pumps in five northeastern states, with Michigan receiving $129 million for renewable energy development.
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