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Author: WHCEQ Staff    Published: 7/16/2024 

Greetings!

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Last Thursday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $1.7 billion to support the conversion of 11 shuttered or at-risk auto manufacturing and assembly facilities across eight states—Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia—to manufacture electric vehicles and their supply chain. This announcement reflects President Biden’s deep commitment to reinvest in and revitalize – and never give up on – the manufacturing communities and the workers who have helped build America’s middle class. These investments through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant Program, covered under the President’s Justice40 Initiative, will create and retain thousands of good-paying union jobs and support the American auto communities that have driven the U.S. economy for generations. View President Biden’s statement on this announcement.

Secretary Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy (@SecGranholm): “The future of the auto industry will be American made. With $500M from @POTUS, @GM‘s Lansing Grand River Assembly joins a growing network of auto plants reviving U.S. manufacturing. From Michigan to Georgia, we’re investing nearly $2B to retain and create good-paying jobs.” [X Post, 7/11/24]
Other recent Biden-Harris Administration announcements:

  • The White House announced that more than 50 new state, local, non-profit, and business organizations have committed to advancing the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, which sets goals to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s river and streams by 2030.
  • The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the availability of $120 million in new funding, supported by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and covered under the President’s Justice40 Initiative, to help Tribal communities prepare for the most severe climate-related environmental threats to their homelands.
  • The White House released a six-month update on Building a Thriving Clean Energy Economy in 2023 and Beyond. The most recent available data indicate the President’s agenda has supported robust investment in the construction of manufacturing facilities and strong performance in key targeted industries including solar and wind energy, grid-scale energy storage, and electric vehicles.
  • DOI announced its approval of the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind energy project – the nation’s ninth commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project approved under President Biden’s leadership. The Administration has now approved more than 13 gigawatts of clean energy from offshore wind energy projects – enough to power nearly five million homes.
  • DOI advanced two actions that would maintain the protection of 28 million acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska. These lands are home to key fish and wildlife habitat, sensitive rivers and streams, and other resources that are critical to the state’s subsistence economy and the way of life for Alaska Native communities. These steps build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to conserve millions of acres of lands and waters in Alaska, including implementing maximum protections for more than 13 million acres of Special Areas in the western Arctic and protecting approximately 2.8 million acres of the Beaufort Sea to place the entire United States Arctic Ocean off limits to new oil and gas leasing.
  • DOE announced $18.5 million to four states and 20 local governments for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, a Justice40 covered program.
Last week, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) held a White House Convening on Accelerating Clean Energy Deployment Through Meaningful Community Engagement. This convening focused on how early and meaningful community engagement can advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to build our nation’s clean energy future faster and more efficiently, including through CEQ’s new Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule and the President’s Permitting Action Plan.

Earlier in the month, President Biden and the Biden-Harris Administration also announced new actions to protect workers and families from the impacts of extreme weather and to support disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and most at risk to the impacts of climate change. These actions are the latest examples of how President Biden is delivering on the most ambitious climate and environmental justice agenda in American history – an agenda that is protecting public health, lowering energy costs for hardworking families, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, strengthening climate resilience, and ensuring that no community is left behind. View President Biden’s remarks on extreme weather here. The announcements include:

  • The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed the first-ever federal safety standard to protect workers from excessive heat. If finalized, OSHA projects the rule would help protect approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.
  • The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced nearly $1 billion dollars in awards through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program, a Justice40 covered program, for 656 projects across the country to help communities protect against disasters and natural hazards.
  • The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency published a Final Rule to implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). The standard is a flexible framework to increase resilience against flooding and help protect communities. FFRMS strengthens FEMA’s standards to incorporate both current and future flood risk, making taxpayer-funded projects far more resilient to flooding, protecting federal investments and reducing the risk of damage and loss from floods.
  • The Department of Transportation made available over $600 million through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, a Justice40 covered program funded by the President’s Investing in America agenda, to fund locally-driven projects in communities that have been cut off by transportation infrastructure decades ago. This funding opportunity builds upon the $3.3 billion that President Biden announced in March 2024 to help rectify the damage done by past transportation projects and drive economic growth in communities across the country.
Other recent Biden-Harris Administration announcements:

  • The White House announced that more than 50 new state, local, non-profit, and business organizations have committed to advancing the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, which sets goals to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s river and streams by 2030.
  • The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the availability of $120 million in new funding, supported by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and covered under the President’s Justice40 Initiative, to help Tribal communities prepare for the most severe climate-related environmental threats to their homelands.
  • The White House released a six-month update on Building a Thriving Clean Energy Economy in 2023 and Beyond. The most recent available data indicate the President’s agenda has supported robust investment in the construction of manufacturing facilities and strong performance in key targeted industries including solar and wind energy, grid-scale energy storage, and electric vehicles.
  • DOI announced its approval of the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind energy project – the nation’s ninth commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project approved under President Biden’s leadership. The Administration has now approved more than 13 gigawatts of clean energy from offshore wind energy projects – enough to power nearly five million homes.
  • DOI advanced two actions that would maintain the protection of 28 million acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska. These lands are home to key fish and wildlife habitat, sensitive rivers and streams, and other resources that are critical to the state’s subsistence economy and the way of life for Alaska Native communities. These steps build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to conserve millions of acres of lands and waters in Alaska, including implementing maximum protections for more than 13 million acres of Special Areas in the western Arctic and protecting approximately 2.8 million acres of the Beaufort Sea to place the entire United States Arctic Ocean off limits to new oil and gas leasing.
  • DOE announced $18.5 million to four states and 20 local governments for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, a Justice40 covered program.

Keep reading for more updates from the Biden-Harris .Administration. If you were forwarded this email, or are not on   list yet, please visit our sign up page

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Administrator Michael Regan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (@EPAMichaelRegan)

“Communities are already seeing the benefits of @POTUS’ Investing in America agenda. Because of funding from @EPA’s Solar for All program, low-income households now have better access to solar energy. https://t.co/pwhumbusNG” [X Post, 7/9/24]

Secretary Deb Haaland, U.S. Department of the Interior (@SecDebHaaland)

“.@POTUS‘ Investing in America agenda makes long-sought electrification projects a reality for Indian Tribes. Today, I visited Gun Lake Tribe’s recently completed solar project in Michigan and announced new funding to help more Tribes build climate resilience.” [X Post, 7/9/24]

Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor (@alizaidi46)

“.@POTUS climate & economic agenda has spurred over 300,000 clean energy jobs AND sparked an American manufacturing renaissance. Today’s awards from @ENERGY means thousands more good-paying union jobs AND a climate comeback for almost a dozen factories!” [X Post, 7/11/24]

Chair Brenda Mallory, White House Council on Environmental Quality (@BrendaMallory46)

“Today, @WHCEQ hosted a convening on accelerating clean energy deployment through community engagement. Under @POTUS’ leadership, we are growing a clean energy economy and creating good-paying jobs while listening to communities and advancing environmental justice.” [X Post, 7/12/24]

NEWS CLIP HIGHLIGHTS

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Save the Date!

White House Summit on Environmental Justice in Action

On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration will host the first-ever White House Summit on Environmental Justice in Action. The Summit will highlight President Biden and Vice President Harris’ progress on advancing environmental justice, celebrate local efforts to create healthier communities, and catalyze further action to build a more equitable and just future. You will hear from community leaders, environmental justice advocates, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials, and more.

Link: Tune in via this link

Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM ET

Upcoming Meetings and Events

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) Meeting

  • Summary: EPA established the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) in 2023 to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Administrator on how to increase EPA’s efforts to address a range of environmental issues as they relate to youth, with an emphasis on communities below 29 years of age. Council members will provide a critical perspective on how the impacts of climate change and other environmental harms affects youth communities. The National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) will convene a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  Read the Federal Register Notice.
  • Registration: To register, email neyac@epa.gov
  • Date: July 17, 2024 from 12:00pm to 4:30pm ET

 

U.S. Department of Energy: Regional Energy Democracy Initiative Office Hours

  • Summary: On May 22, 2024 the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) opened the application process for organizations in the Gulf South region of Texas and Louisiana to take part in the Regional Energy Democracy Initiative (REDI). The newly established DOE program provides direct capacity building and technical assistance for community-based organizations and local stakeholders engaged in the coordination, development, and delivery of community benefits associated with DOE-funded projects. DOE is hosting open office hours for potential applicants. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to ask questions.
  • Link: https://energywerx.wufoo.com/forms/zp08djq18bv9rm/
  • Date: July 18, 2024 at 3:00pm ET

 

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: Trainings on Effective Participation in the Public Comment Process

  • Summary: The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will offer two training sessions on effective participation in the public comment process. Both trainings will cover the same material, so interested parties should plan to only attend one. At these training sessions, OIRA will describe (1) opportunities to provide comment in the regulatory process; (2) how to submit public comments; and (3) how to draft effective public comments.
  • Dates and Registration Links
  • July 18, 2024 at 3:00pm ET: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_cefMDcZkRhWtpnw23Da8jw
  • July 24, 2024 at 5:30pm ET: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_Qdsc9iy9RN2R0l1ZQ__7jg

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: EJScreen Office Hours & Training

  • Summary: EPA is holding a set of ‘Office Hours’ for users of EJScreen, the Agency’s environmental justice screening and mapping tool. These Office Hours will be a chance for the public to talk with EPA EJScreen experts about many topics including how to use and apply the tool, technical issues, and any other questions. EPA will hold these sessions on a bimonthly basis.
  • Link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1610600521
  • Date: July 24, 2024 at 12:00pm ET
Applications and Funding Opportunities

President Biden’s American Climate Corps

  • Summary: American Climate Corps members will gain the skills necessary to access good-paying jobs that are aligned with high-quality employment opportunities after they complete their paid training or service program.
  • Link: https://climatecorps.gov
  • Deadline: Varies based on position

U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program under Section 48(e)

  • Summary: Applications are still open for the 2024 Program Year of the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. This program was established by the Inflation Reduction Act to promote cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land, as part of affordable housing developments, and benefitting low-income households.
  • Link: https://www.energy.gov/justice/low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program
  • Deadline: The first round of applications was due on June 27, but DOE continues to accept applications on a rolling basis.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program

  • Summary: The purpose of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction (LHR) grant program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, cities, counties/parishes, Tribes, or other units of government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations. In addition, there is Healthy Homes Supplemental funding available that is intended to enhance the lead-based paint hazard control activities by comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health.
  • Link: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/355076
  • Deadline: August 19, 2024 at 11:59pm ET

 

U.S. Department of the Interior: Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program

  • Summary: The Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program is accepting applications for FY 2024 starting July 17, 2024. The Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR) provides financial support for federally recognized Tribal Nations and authorized Tribal organizations through a competitive funding opportunity to address current and future climate change impacts on Tribal Treaty and Trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety. This year, over $120 million will be made available across three funding categories: Category 1 – Planning; Category 2 – Implementation; and Category 3 – Relocation, Managed Retreat, Protect-in-Place (RMP) Staff. TCR awards may also be used to meet other Federal and non-Federal cost share/match requirements required by statute.
  • Link: https://www.bia.gov/service/tcr-annual-awards-program
  • Deadline: October 18, 2024
Requests for Input

U.S. Department of Justice: Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Information – Request for Comments

  • Summary: The Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks your verbal and written comments on several questions for its 2024 Environmental Justice Strategic Plan by the extended deadline of Monday, July 22, 2024. As directed by Executive Order 14096, “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All,” the DOJ is required to publish an Environmental Justice Strategic Plan outlining its vision, goals, priority actions, and metrics to address and advance environmental justice. The Strategic Plan must be posted online and submitted to the Council on Environmental Quality, a division of the Executive Office of the President, by October 2024.
  • Link: https://www.justice.gov/oej/draft-environmental-justice-strategic-plan-information
  • Deadline: July 22, 2024

DOE Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) Program – Request for Public Comment

  • Summary: DOE is seeking public input on the Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) program application and evaluation process. The TFF program provides direct loans for eligible transmission projects within a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC). DOE anticipates opening the TFF program in 2025. Parties interested in providing comments, including utilities and project developers, are encouraged to contact DOE at TFF@hq.doe.gov by July 31, 2024 to register input. Learn more here.
  • Deadline: July 31, 2024

U.S. Department of Energy: Notice of Request for Information Related to the Department of Energy’s Environmental Justice Strategic Plan – Request for Information

 

White House Gender Policy Council: Girls Leading Change Nomination Form – Seeking Nominations

USDA Forest Service: Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System – Request for Comments

  • Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is requesting public comment on its draft environmental impact statement for the proposed national old growth forest plan amendment. The purpose of this amendment is to provide consistent guidance for the stewardship, conservation, and recruitment of old growth across national forests. The proposed amendment highlights the importance of proactive stewardship actions in managing threats to old growth forests, and to reduce wildfire risk, considering current and emerging climate-driven threats. It also calls for adaptive management strategies to be developed using local, geographically relevant information and the best available science, including Indigenous Knowledge.
  • Link: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=65356
  • Deadline: September 20, 2024

RESOURCE HUB

Cleanenergy.gov: A one-stop shop for information on President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and how the Inflation Reduction Act helps lower energy costs for consumers and small businesses while creating good-paying jobs as America’s clean energy economy and manufacturing sectors grow.

Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST): Geospatial mapping tool that identifies areas across the nation where communities are faced with significant burdens. These burdens are organized into eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development.

Climate Capital Guidebook: Guidebook providing a simple, comprehensive map of capital programs across the federal government that are available to climate-related start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses, and their investors.

Conservation.gov: An information hub supporting locally led efforts to conserve and restore our nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife.

Department of Housing and Urban Development Funding Navigator: Find hundreds of available Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other programs across a range of federal agencies in these categories: Energy Efficiency and Renewables, Utility Scale Energy, Resiliency, Lead and Healthy Housing, Brownfield and Waste Management, Transportation, Broadband, Workforce Development and Environmental Justice.

Department of Transportation Navigator: Explore federal funding opportunities that help plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services

Direct Pay Through the Inflation Reduction Act: Find resources on the Inflation Reduction Act’s “elective pay” (often called “direct pay”) provisions, through which tax-exempt and governmental entities can take advantage of tax credits for building clean energy projects.

DOE Interactive Map: Interactive tool showcasing where clean energy investments are occurring across the United States thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

Energy Savings Hub | Department of Energy: Access resources made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which will help lower your energy costs and make your home safer and more comfortable while helping the planet.

Environmental Justice Scorecard: Find information about what federal agencies are doing to advance environmental justice in communities across America.

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers: 16 centers across the country are now accepting requests for training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, developing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. If you are interested in technical assistance for the Community Change Grants $2 billion Notice of Funding Opportunity, please visit: Community Change Grants Technical Assistance.

Federal Flood Standard Support Tool (Beta): The Federal Flood Standard Support Tool helps federal agencies and their non-federal partners and grantees identify if a federally funded project will be located within a FFRMS floodplain using the freeboard value approach (FVA), and climate-informed science approach (CISA).

Grants.gov: Learn about current federal grant opportunities.

Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook: This guidebook provides an overview of the clean energy, climate mitigation and resilience, agriculture, and conservation-related tax incentives and investment programs in President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Inflation Reduction Act Tribal Guidebook: Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Energy and Climate Investments in Indian Country, which provides descriptions of the law’s tax incentives and funding programs for which Tribes are eligible.

Invest.gov: Interactive map showing the historic public and private sector investments President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is bringing to states and territories across America.

Investing in America Technical Assistance Guide: Guide highlighting programs that help communities navigate the more than 100 federal technical assistance programs that can help communities deliver infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience projects.

Justice40 Covered Programs List: List of federal programs working to advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Tribal Access to Capital Clearinghouse: A website that provides a searchable database of federal funding opportunities, including grants and loans, available to Tribal Nations and Native businesses.

Wetland and Water Protection Resource Guide: Resource Guide highlighting technical assistance and funding opportunities available across the federal government for Tribes, States, Territories, local governments, private land owners, and non-governmental organizations to advance water resource protection.

#ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)