EPA and Congressman Clyburn highlight solar power conversion project at Columbia, SC wastewater treatment plant

EPA and Congressman Clyburn highlight solar power conversion project at Columbia, SC wastewater treatment plant

September 16, 2024

Through the grant, the Central Midlands COG will create a Smart Surfaces + Solar Fund to provide matching funding for local government projects to install solar power at public buildings like the City of Columbia's wastewater plant. The project will also promote green infrastructure, urban forestry, and cool pavement pilot projects to reduce urban heat island effects in the region.

"Key components of the EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Program include support for the improvement of climate action plans, identification of pollution reduction opportunities, and funding for activities such as emissions inventory creation, and the analysis of policies and strategies," said acting EPA Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. "Over the next five years, the projects funded by the Central Midland COG's S3 Fund and the EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region by 27,141 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, improving climate resilience and public health outcomes in the Central Midlands."

"Today marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and community empowerment. This $8.7 million grant to the Central Midlands Council of Governments will serve as a transformative investment in our local communities. In addition, a coalition application led by the Atlantic Conservation Commission, of which the South Carolina Office of Resilience is a member, has been selected to receive $421,238,074 for projects that would protect and restore coastal, peatland, and forest lands in South Carolina and the adjoining states of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland," said Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06). "I'm grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration's continued efforts to enhance our public spaces, support sustainable development, and improve the quality of life for all residents in the region."

"We are excited and proud to create this collaborative, multi-jurisdictional effort to implement solar and smart surface projects," said Will Brennan, Central Midlands COG Board Chair. "This award is the result of the hard work and commitment of our staff and local government partners to develop an innovative and achievable program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that will have a lasting impact on our region."

"As a member of the Climate Protection Action Committee, the City of Columbia's climate advisory board, I am keenly aware of the challenges local jurisdictions face in meeting the urgent need for action to address the causes and effects of climate change," said Bob Petrulis, Chair of the Columbia Climate Protection Action Committee. "The grant received by the Midlands Council of Governments from the EPA will help immensely as we build our regional capacity to meet these challenges."

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program is an initiative funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These grants are designed to provide resources to state, local governments, and tribes to collaboratively work on reducing climate pollution. Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Environmental Protection Agency launched the CPRG with the aim of helping state, local, and tribal governments develop and implement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants.

In the first phase of the program, the city of Columbia was awarded a $1 million planning grant to be able to begin work on locating areas of improvement in the community. The Central Midlands COG then took what has been learned so far in their planning phase to apply for the highly competitive Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grants. The Central Midlands COG was one of 25 highly rated applicants selected out of over 300 applications.

Learn more about EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program.

Learn more about the CPRG Implementation Phase Grant Awards.

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