The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) works with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP), the Governor’s Energy Office, Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT), and other state agencies, regional and municipal governments, and key stakeholders to advance climate and energy policy in Maine. GOPIF serves as the lead agency for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG).
The EPA is administering the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program as a one-time funding opportunity available through the Inflation Reduction Act. The CPRG provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants.
Phase 1: Planning Funding
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants.
GOPIF has been awarded a $3 million planning grant from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. These funds are supporting additional capacity, outreach efforts and specific emission reduction pathways that can be incorporated into the next iteration of the Maine four-year climate action plan that is due December 2024.
The first deliverable of this planning grant process is a Priority Climate Action Plan. For Maine, we are preparing a PCAP that reflects the goals and structure of the state's climate action plan, Maine Won't Wait. After submitting the PCAP to the U.S. EPA by March 1, the State of Maine is now eligible to apply for implementation funds available through a competitive funding opportunity.
Phase 2: Implementation Funding Competitive Opportunity
The Priority Climate Action Plan, due March 1, 2024, unlocks the opportunity for Maine to apply for CPRG Implementation funds to implement greenhouse gas emission reduction and sequestration projects. Awards can range from $2 million to $500 million. Applications are due April 1, 2024. Applications must include greenhouse gas emission reduction measures that are included in the Priority Climate Action Plan.
For more information and to learn more about the funding opportunity, please visit the EPA’s program website.