The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: A National Drive Towards Clean Energy and Equity
Notification of Intergovernmental Review for Grants under GGRF Programs: These involve Aid Listings 66.957 (NCIF), 66.960 (CCIA), and 66.959 ( Zero Emissions Technologies Grant Program, previously known as Solar For All)
The Inflation Reduction Act has established the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a significant initiative aimed at financing projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy deployment. The GGRF consists of three distinct grant programs: the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF), the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), and the Solar for All (SFA) program.
The National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF)
The NCIF focuses on providing capital to institutions that can finance large-scale clean energy infrastructure and decarbonization projects nationwide. It aims to fund scalable projects with major greenhouse gas reductions, such as developing utility-scale renewable energy plants, electrifying freight and public transit systems, and retrofitting factories with low-carbon technologies.
The Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA)
The CCIA provides grants to community-focused entities like local governments, tribal governments, and non-profits to accelerate community-led clean energy and climate innovation projects. Examples include municipal solar-plus-storage projects, electrification of local bus fleets, and weatherization programs targeting low-income housing.
Solar for All (SFA)
SFA is dedicated to expanding access to solar energy and related benefits in low-income communities, addressing energy equity and affordability. It supports projects such as solar photovoltaic installations in underserved communities, access to energy storage in low-income neighborhoods, and community solar projects with direct benefits to residents.
Each program targets different types of recipients and project priorities to maximize emission reductions and promote equitable clean energy deployment. The GGRF prioritizes projects that deliver significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions while advancing environmental justice and economic opportunity, especially in historically underserved and disadvantaged communities.
The GGRF program is authorized by Section 134 of the Clean Air Act and Section 7(c) of the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974. Directly affected state, areawide, regional, and local government entities have 60 calendar days to submit comments to the EPA on the GGRF programs.
Only states or territories with SPOCs that have selected GGRF grant programs for full intergovernmental review are California, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Utah, and the Virgin Islands. Projects funded under these programs commonly include renewable energy development, electrification of transport, reductions in industrial emissions, energy efficiency improvements, and solar access expansion.
The GGRF program is a $27 billion investment aimed at achieving national climate goals, promoting energy independence, and lowering energy costs. It's an ambitious step towards a cleaner, more equitable energy future for America.
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- The establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is a significant national initiative, financed by the Inflation Reduction Act, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy deployment.
- The National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) within the GGRF provides capital to institutions for nationwide large-scale clean energy infrastructure and decarbonization projects, focusing on scalable projects like utility-scale renewable energy plants and public transit electrification.
- The Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) offers grants to community-focused entities for accelerating clean energy and climate innovation projects at the local level, such as municipal solar-plus-storage projects and low-income housing weatherization programs.
- Solar for All (SFA) prioritizes solar energy access in low-income communities, addressing energy equity and affordability issues through projects like community solar installations and energy storage in low-income neighborhoods.
- Directly affected government entities have 60 days to submit comments to the EPA regarding the GGRF programs, with only certain states or territories currently participating, including California, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Utah, and the Virgin Islands.
- The GGRF program is a $27 billion investment aimed at achieving national climate goals, promoting energy independence, and lowering energy costs, marking an ambitious step towards a cleaner, more equitable energy future for America.