Through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), Congress provided many tools to pursue greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reductions, including the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. In implementing this and many other programs under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks to achieve three broad objectives:
- Tackle damaging climate pollution while supporting the creation of good jobs and
lowering energy costs for families. - Accelerate work to address environmental injustice and empower community-driven
solutions in overburdened neighborhoods. - Deliver cleaner air by reducing harmful air pollution in places where people live, work,
play, and go to school
The CPRG program will provide grants in two phases to Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful air pollution.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA will be awarded a $1 million non-competitive planning grant to develop a climate action plan. This MSA covers 38 jurisdictions across Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas County. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council will be the lead organization during this planning process.
Phase one: the TBRPC will work closely with participating MSA stakeholders and community members to develop a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. This plan will include a regional GHG inventory, GHG emissions projections, GHG reduction targets and measures, a benefits analysis including Low Income/ Disadvantaged Communities’ benefits, review of authority to implement, intersections with other funding availability, and a workforce planning analysis.
Phase two: EPA is releasing $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants in 2024. These grants are eligible for jurisdictions and qualified collaborating partners to apply for in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA. Notice of funding opportunity is expected to be released in September 2023.
