10/31/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/31/2024 12:00
October 31, 2024
BOSTON (Oct. 31, 2024) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has been selected to receive $265,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.
"Every community deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment-and pollution prevention grants help achieve that by reducing waste at the source. By adopting smarter and innovative practices that limit the use of toxic materials and conserve resources, these investments are helping our partners to support New England businesses to cut costs, grow sustainably, and protect the environment," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, together we're creating lasting benefits for local economies and ensuring that environmental progress and economic growth go hand in hand and reach all communities, including those that need it most. That's Investing in America."
"I'm pleased to see this funding come to New Hampshire to help our businesses and industry take meaningful steps to prevent pollution right at the source," said U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. "Through energy efficiency, water conservation and other pollution reduction strategies, this program helps businesses save money while benefitting the broader community."
"We all have a role to play in mitigating pollution and preserving our environment for future generations to enjoy," said Congresswoman Annie Kuster. "I'm deeply appreciative of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to lowering costs for Granite State families and businesses by empowering them to address pollution at its sources, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact the P2 program continues to have on the well-being of our communities and environment."
"Pollution prevention means stopping pollution at the source and protecting the health of our families, communities, and environment," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, which I fought to pass, this grant will provide businesses with federal resources to craft and adopt pollution prevention practices, reducing their costs and safeguarding our water, land, and air."
"The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is pleased to be a recipient of EPA grant funds to continue work with craft food and beverage facilities to help foster these important local industries while reducing their environmental footprint," said New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Robert R. Scott.
In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business' efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. These practices are essential for protecting health, improving environmental conditions-including in and around disadvantaged communities-and preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.
Between 2011-2022, EPA's Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kWh in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials, and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.
The agency expects to award funds once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Once awarded, selected grantees will document and share P2 best practices that they identify and develop through these grants, so that others can replicate these practices and outcomes. Each selected grantee will also develop at least one case study during the grant period on P2 practices that are new or not widely known or adopted, or where detailed information on the P2 practices could benefit other businesses or P2 technical assistance providers.
The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA's Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA's Pollution Prevention website.
Background
President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA's P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022 and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.
The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA's Pollution Prevention website.
Read more about P2 and EPA's P2 Grant Program.