In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of initial guidance for the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CPRG—also known as the “State Climate Grants” program), Evergreen Action Co-founder and Senior Advisor Sam Ricketts released the following statement: 

“Today, EPA took a big step forward in supporting the next generation of state climate leadership. EPA’s $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program is designed to support states, Tribal nations, and local governments to continue building their clean energy future—from electricity and buildings to transportation and industry.  

“We are particularly pleased that EPA is moving to make funding quickly and easily available to states, Tribal nations, and local governments, to help them build capacity to advance bold, equitable climate policies, and so that they can take advantage of the panoply of new federal investments in clean energy and environmental justice. Today’s announcement of Planning Grant funding available, available starting as soon as March 1st, is consistent with recommendations that Evergreen and 40 organizations provided to the agency in December. 

“Going forward, we eagerly anticipate EPA’s plans for the program’s Implementation Grants, which we hope the agency will deploy quickly to support bold state plans for sectoral transformations for clean energy, good jobs, and environmental justice.”

During IRA negotiations, Evergreen championed funding for the CPRG because states, Tribal nations, and local governments have a central role to play in America’s clean energy transition. After the IRA passed, Evergreen submitted recommendations to EPA on program design and led a coalition letter to EPA signed by 40 organizations. Most recently, Evergreen released CRPG implementation guidance for governors and state leaders, in partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). 

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