King County Awarded $50 Million EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, Seattle to Benefit from Subawards to Reduce Building Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of King County to receive a $49,999,975 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) to reduce building emissions in King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Snohomish Counties. In a press conference, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell - along with EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest), King County, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, host Horizon House, and the City of Bellevue - celebrated that the funding will help multifamily, small commercial, and community buildings across the region make capital improvements that reduce emissions.

Seattle, who was a strong partner in the development of the grant proposal, will coordinate with the County to access a portion of this groundbreaking investment to decarbonize multifamily, commercial, and community buildings through subawards.

"We cannot meet the moment of the climate crisis without collaboration - This critical grant is an example of local, regional, and federal agencies coming together to reduce buildings-related carbon pollution, generate high-paying green jobs for residents, and create resilient communities and infrastructure."

-Mayor Bruce Harrell

In Seattle, the funding will support the decarbonization of city-owned buildings - such as community centers and libraries - which will provide cooling benefits to residents and create more sustainable communities. In utilizing the funding to decarbonize commercial and multifamily buildings, the City will prioritize affordable housing sites and buildings serving overburdened communities.

Funding to Seattle will also help building owners make energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, ultimately supporting them in meeting the City's Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS). Buildings are responsible for more than a third of Seattle's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. BEPS requires buildings over 20,000 square feet to meet GHG emission reduction targets over time to reduce buildings-related pollution by 27% by 2050.

In conjunction with helping building owners upgrade their structures, the CPRG will generate green jobs in sectors such as construction and electrification.

Seattle will continue its collaboration with King County into grant implementation by helping design the subgranting process, as well as supporting policy development, contractor selection, region-wide progress evaluation, and more.

King County served as the lead applicant on this grant, convening the three other counties, as well as other local jurisdictions, to jointly identify GHG reduction priority actions. King County's CPRG will reduce emissions in each county through operations in existing structures, new building construction, and creating innovative programs, such as reusing lumber at the end of a building's life.

King County was one of 25 selected applications among states, a Tribe, and other local agencies to receive a share of $4.3 billion from the EPA to implement community-driven solutions that reduce air pollution and advance environmental justice.

The City of Seattle and OSE are thankful to King County for its collaboration, the EPA for its support, and Horizon House for hosting the announcement. You can learn more about Seattle's aggressive climate goals from the Seattle Climate Action Plan.

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