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Author: WHCEQ Staff    Published: 11/4/2022     WHCEQ
Greetings,
This week the Biden-Harris Administration announced the largest-ever investment in air pollution monitoring, with the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of funding for 132 air monitoring projects in 37 states. This follows last week’s EPA news of $1 billion to school districts across the nation to purchase electric school buses.
On Wednesday, Vice President Harris visited a union hall and training facility in Boston to highlight steps the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to lower energy costs for working families and support good-paying jobs and manufacturing in America. Read more here.
Work continues across agencies to advance implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act. Yesterday the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released the second series of notices to collect public input on key climate and energy tax provisions of the law. Treasury’s requests are available here.
In addition, EPA announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for additional programs created by the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes funding for air quality projects and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants. Read more here.
And finally, the Biden-Harris Administration announced five priorities for climate innovation that will open up new solutions to hit net zero greenhouse gases, economy-wide, by no later than 2050. Read more here.
Keep reading for more updates from the Biden-Harris Administration and to learn about open Requests for Information (RFIs) from federal agencies seeking public comment on energy and environmental initiatives.
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Tweets of the Week
Vice President Kamala Harris: “Through the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re lowering costs for families –– and while we’re at it, we’re creating jobs and taking on the climate crisis. Visit http://cleanenergy.gov to learn more.” [Tweet, 11/3/22]
CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory: “This Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will help schools in all 50 states purchase 2,463 clean school buses. That means cleaner air and a more sustainable future for our kids. #CleanSchoolBus” [Tweet, 10/26/22]
White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi: “?Saving consumers $500/year on energy costs thru rebates & financing for?Retrofits & upgrades for 2 million homes, including 500,000 heat pumps deployed, and Investment via Defense Production Act to make sure more heat pumps are stamped MADE IN USA” [Tweet, 11/3/22]
U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan: “I’m proud to announce that EPA is investing $53 million in 132 air monitoring projects across the nation. This funding will ensure overburdened communities have the tools they need to better understand air quality challenges and help protect people from air pollution.” [Tweet, 11/3/22]
U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland: “More of @POTUS’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is being put to work to plug orphaned oil and gas wells, which contaminate groundwater, emit toxic gases like methane, and litter the landscape with rusted and dangerous equipment. President Biden’s all-hands-on-deck approach to #climatechange is spreading #oceanoptimism, and we want to hear from YOU on the @WhiteHouse’s forthcoming Ocean Climate Action Plan: https://t.co/WlvnfrYhui” [Tweet 10/27/22]
Clips of the Week
Recent Announcements
FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Makes Historic Investment in America’s National Labs, Announces Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative
“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $1.5 billion under the President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to build and upgrade America’s national laboratories and advance American leadership in science, research, and innovation. Strengthening our national labs will increase economic growth, create good-paying, local jobs and help attract skilled workers needed to drive clean energy solutions and other technologies that will lower costs for families, make people’s lives better, and address the climate crisis. In addition, the White House announced a new report that identifies five initial priorities that will help enable the United States to meet the President’s goal of cutting greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 50-52% in 2030 and get to net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. To drive innovation of these technologies, the Administration is also launching the Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative today.” Full announcement here.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $53 Million for 132 Community Air Pollution Monitoring Projects Across the Nation
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 132 air monitoring projects in 37 states will receive $53.4 million from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan to enhance air quality monitoring in communities across the United States. The projects are focused on communities that are underserved, historically marginalized, and overburdened by pollution, supporting President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative.” Full announcement here.
EPA Releases First-ever Agency-Wide Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities (Lead Strategy), in conjunction with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. This first-ever, agency-wide Lead Strategy outlines how EPA will utilize its full suite of authorities, expertise, and resources to reduce lead exposure in communities overburdened by pollution and advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice and equity. The efforts outlined in the strategy to protect the public from lead pollution are supported by the historic investments under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” Full announcement here.
Signed: Instrument of Ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
“On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the President signed the instrument of ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.” Full announcement here.
A Proclamation on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2022
“This month, we recommit to improving the resilience of our Nation’s critical infrastructure so it can withstand all hazards — natural and manmade. By building better roads, bridges, and ports; fortifying our information technology and cybersecurity across sectors, including election systems; safeguarding our food and water sources; moving to clean energy; and strengthening all other critical infrastructure sectors, we will lay the foundation for long-term security and prosperity.” Full announcement here.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Supports $45 Million Investment to Build Climate Resilience in Tribal Communities
“The Department of the Interior today announced a $45 million investment in Tribal communities to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change. These Tribal Climate Resilience projects will support Tribes and Tribal organizations in adaptation planning, climate implementation actions, ocean and coastal management planning, capacity building, relocation, managed retreat, and protect-in-place planning for climate risks. Today’s announcement is supported by $20 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $25 million from fiscal year 2022 annual appropriations.” Full announcement here.
FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Lower Energy Costs for Families
“Today, Vice President Harris will visit a union hall and training facility in Boston to highlight new steps the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to lower energy costs for working families and support good-paying jobs and manufacturing in America. The Vice President will underscore how the Administration is continuing to cut energy costs for families ahead of winter. And, the Vice President will highlight how President Biden’s economic plan will help households afford energy efficient equipment when they need to make home repairs, so they can save money on their utility bills for years to come.” Full announcement here.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $703 Million to Improve Port Infrastructure, Strengthen National Supply Chains, Lower Costs
“Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that will improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and additional Congressional appropriations, will benefit coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports, helping improve supply chain reliability through increased port capacity and resilience, more efficient operations, reduced port emissions, and new workforce opportunities. Together, these investments will help get goods to shelves faster and lower costs for American families.” Full announcement here.
Treasury Seeks Public Input on Additional Clean Energy Tax Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act
“The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today issued three additional notices requesting public input on key climate and clean energy tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. The trio of notices follows an initial set of notices requesting comment the Department issued in October. These Notices are part of Treasury’s ongoing efforts to engage a broad spectrum of taxpayers and stakeholders to inform its work implementing the Inflation Reduction Act. Nearly three-quarters of the bill’s $369 billion climate change investment – $270 billion – is delivered through tax incentives, putting the Department at the forefront of this landmark legislation.” Full announcement here.
Federal agencies want to hear from you!
Federal agencies seek public input to help inform the development of funding opportunities, grant processes, policy, and program implementation. Below is a list of open Requests for Information (RFIs), where you can submit your comments/feedback. For more information on the requests and to make a submission, follow the links below.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): New Provision to Provide Assistance to Agricultural Producers Who Have Experienced Discrimination
  • Summary: The USDA is seeking public comment on how it should implement Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a provision that aims to provide assistance to the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. Section 22007 provides a transformative opportunity for USDA to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners impacted by discrimination in USDA farm lending programs. IRA Section 22007 directs USDA to provide financial assistance to producers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs and has appropriated $2.2 billion for this purpose. The request for information asks several questions on how USDA should design and administer the program. The request for information also asks how USDA should identify former borrowers who experienced discrimination. Additionally, the request asks what criteria USDA should use to select a third party (or parties) to administer the program. Once the comment period closes, USDA will review all comments received through the Federal Register notice and provided by the public during the three scheduled listening sessions. For more information on IRA Section 22007 and to find out how to submit your comments, please go to www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-22435.
  • Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2022-22435/request-for-information-financial-assistance-for-producers-and-landowners-determined-to-have
  • Deadline: November 14, 2022.
  • Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): the RFI to develop the Ocean Climate Action Plan
  • Summary: “The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), on behalf of the interagency Ocean Policy Committee (OPC), request input from all interested parties to inform the development of a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) that will help guide and coordinate actions by the Federal government and civil society to address ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes-based mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. The OCAP will summarize planned Federal ocean-based climate action and the benefits of these actions, identify gaps in knowledge and application of knowledge to emerging ocean-climate issues, and recommend actions to advance the effectiveness of the Nation’s response to the impacts of climate change. The input received will be used to inform the development of the OCAP.”
  • Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/04/2022-21480/ocean-climate-action-plan
  • Deadline: November 18, 2022
  • Department of Energy: Defense Production Act
  • Summary: “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains (MESC) and Office of Policy (OP) request information to inform how authority under Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) provided to DOE through Presidential Determinations could best be used as a tool to accelerate manufacturing and deployment of energy technologies to bolster national defense, tackle climate change and environmental injustice, strengthen energy security and reliability, and improve employment opportunities and broader economic prosperity for Americans. This RFI invites public comment on general use of Title III of the Defense Production Act as well as on transformers and critical electric grid components and three other technology areas announced by the President on June 6, 2022: solar photovoltaics; insulation materials; and electrolyzers, platinum group metals, and fuel cells for clean hydrogen.”
  • Link: https://www.energy.gov/mesc/defense-production-act-request-information
  • Deadline: November 30, 2022
  • General Services Administration and Department of Energy: RFI for Technologies for Net-Zero Carbon Buildings
  • Summary: “…in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions economywide by 2050, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced a new request for information (RFI) about technologies that will help achieve net-zero carbon buildings. Specifically, the RFI seeks input from industry on technologies that help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of commercial buildings, improve grid resiliency, and have significant potential for equitable and broad adoption in the U.S. marketplace.”
  • Link: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-doe-issue-rfi-for-technologies-for-netzero-carbon-buildings-10112022
  • Deadline: December 9, 2022
  • EPA: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
  • Summary: EPA received $5 billion to assist states, air pollution control agencies, tribes and local governments develop and implement strong, local climate pollution reduction strategies. These eligible entities can apply for planning grants, then for grants to implement plans that have been approved by the EPA. This is a new program that will be informed by comments received via this request for public comment in addition to other stakeholder engagement activities that the Agency will be conducting consistent with its Grant Competition policy.
  • Link: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0873
  • Deadline: January 18, 2023
  • EPA: Transportation Programs
  • Summary: EPA received $4 billion for two new programs to reduce emissions from the transportations sector. The first program is the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle program that will invest $1 billion to help cover the costs of replacing dirty heavy-duty vehicles with clean alternatives, deploy supporting infrastructure, and/or train and develop the necessary workforce. At least $400 million must go to areas not meeting national air quality health standards. The application is open to states, municipalities, Indian tribes, nonprofit school transportation associations, and eligible contractors.
  • Link: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0874
  • Deadline: January 18, 2023
  • EPA: Methane Emissions Reduction Program
  • Summary: EPA received $1.55 billion to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by providing financial assistance (grants, rebates, contracts, loans, and other activities) and technical assistance as well as implementing a statutorily required waste emissions charge. Eligible recipients for these funds include, but are not limited to, air pollution control agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals. The program specifies that at least $700 million must be used for activities at marginal conventional wells. Section 60113 also requires EPA to implement a waste emission charge on methane emitted from applicable oil and gas facilities that emit over 25,000 metric tons of CO2e and that exceed statutorily specified waste emissions thresholds beginning in 2024. The waste emissions charge will start at $900 and increase to $1,500 per metric ton.
  • Link: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0875
  • Deadline: January 18, 2023
  • EPA: Funding to Address Air Pollution
  • Summary: EPA received over $300 million in funding to support the agency’s air quality mission by investing in a range of activities that will increase monitoring in and by communities, expand and strengthen national monitoring methods, improve monitoring methods and capacity, make monitoring data more available and useful for communities, and improve air quality in our nation’s schools. Six of these programs are authorized under Section 60105. This section establishes a wide range of eligible applicants that includes individuals, state, local and Tribal Air pollution control agencies, and other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations EPA also received $50 million in Section 60106 to address air pollution at schools with $12.5 million dedicated to providing technical assistance and the remainder for grants and other activities to monitor and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions at schools in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Eligible applicants for this funding include individuals, air pollution control agencies, and other public nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations.
  • Link: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0876
  • Deadline: January 18, 2023
  • EPA: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM)
  • Summary: Funding includes $38.5 million for implementation of the AIM Act to implement the Kigali Agreement on hydrofluorocarbons. Of this funding, $15 million is dedicated towards new competitive grants for reclaim and innovative destruction technologies, $20 million is dedicated to EPA to carry out the AIM Act, and $3.5 million is dedicated to EPA to deploy new implementation and compliance tools for the AIM Act.
  • Link: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0877
  • Deadline: January 18, 2023
  • EPA: Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting
  • Summary: Low Emissions Electricity Program [60107] Funding includes $87 million to fund a wide range of activities to encourage low emissions electricity generation through education, technical assistance, and partnerships with consumers, low income and disadvantaged communities, industry, and state, local, and Tribal governments. GHG Corporate Reporting [60111] Funding includes $5 million to enhance standardization and transparency of corporate climate action commitments and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance transparency regarding progress toward meeting such commitments and implementing such plans, and make progress toward meeting such commitments and implementing such plans.
  • Link: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0878
  • Deadline: January 18, 2023