Health
Illinois Wins $430M EPA Grant to Reduce Pollution and Spur Clean Energy Transition
(Pixabay)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $4.3 billion in funding Monday as part of its Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, and Illinois was a big winner, nabbing $430 million.
There were 300 applicants to the program, but just 25 selected recipients, including the state of Illinois. Grant awards ranged from $3 million to nearly $500 million.
The program was created under the Inflation Reduction Act and is designed to: promote community-driven solutions to the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice and accelerate America’s clean energy transition.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will lead the administration of the state's grant dollars, with a focus on decarbonization, freight electrification, climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy, according to a statement.
Among the initiatives Illinois will pursue:
— Accelerate clean and efficient buildings with the goal of retrofitting 12,000 homes and 2.3 million square feet of commercial space.
— Train hundreds of clean building contractors.
— Provide incentives, workforce training and technical assistance to reduce greenhouse gas and diesel emissions from freight, including trucks and trains.
— Promote adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, including converting approximately 300,000 acres to no-till.
— Accelerate transition from gas-powered lawn equipment to electric equipment.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
