Biden-Harris Administration Announces Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to Receive $200,000 in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution as Part of[...]

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to Receive $200,000 in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution as Part of Investing in America Agenda

November 1, 2024

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation - Office of Sustainable Practices (TDEC OSP} has been selected to receive $200,000. The TDEC OSP will provide technical assistance to food and beverage and chemical manufacturing businesses throughout Tennessee, with a specific focus on those that are in disadvantaged communities and report Toxic Release Inventory data to the EPA. They will provide P2 strategies through education and outreach in the form of webinars, workshops, and a collaborative demonstration workshop with Oak Ridge National Lab's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. Additionally, TDEC OSP will amplify P2 successes, best practices, and cases studies through its social media platforms, the Tennessee Green Star Partnership and Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards.

"We are gratified to see so many selectees for these pollution prevention grants in EPA's Southeast Region," said acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. "Pollution prevention is an important component in addressing environmental issues, and it is the most cost-effective method in reducing environmental pollution."

"The EPA continues to provide important resources to reduce pollution in Tennessee and ensure that our air is safe to breathe and our water safe to drink," said Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09).

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

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