EPA Announces More Than $129 million to Cuyahoga County for Community-Driven Solutions to Cut Climate Pollution

EPA Announces More Than $129 million to Cuyahoga County for Community-Driven Solutions to Cut Climate Pollution

Funded by President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, EPA announces selected applications through competitive Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program to tackle climate change, improve air quality, and advance environmental justice

July 22, 2024

Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection ofa coalition led byCuyahoga County, Ohio,to receive a $129,396,997 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America's clean energy transition.

Cuyahoga County, along withthe cities of Cleveland and Painesville, will support the transition away from a coal-fired power plant in Northeast Ohio by funding the deployment of 63 megawatts of solar installations on brownfield and previouslandfill sites and 10 megawatts of battery storage. They will also restore natural habitat and expand tree coverage on a brownfield near Lake Erie and create pollinator habitats at the selected solar sites.

"President Biden believes in the power of community-driven solutions to fight climate change, protect public health, and grow our economy. Thanks to his leadership, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will deliver unprecedented resources tostates, local governments, and Tribes to fund the solutions that work best in their communities," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan."Selected recipients have put forward ambitious plans to advance sustainable agriculture, deploy clean industrial technologies, cut emissions and energy costs in homes and commercial buildings, and provide cost- and energy-efficient heating and cooling to communities, creating economic and workforce development opportunities along the way."

"The Biden-Harris administration is delivering unprecedented funding and resources to help fight climate change, safeguard public health and grow the economy in Cuyahoga County," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. "EPA congratulates Cuyahoga County and the cities of Cleveland and Painesville for their leadership and innovative plans to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by replacing a coal-fired power plant with a large-scale solar array and a 1000-acre public lakefront park tobuild a greener, cleaner, healthier future for all Ohioans." 

"This is a big win for Cuyahoga County and a major investment in our future. Reducing air pollution, deploying clean energy, and restoring natural habitats makes Northeast Ohio a better place to live. I'mexcited to join the EPA in announcing such a significant investment in our local community and commend Cuyahoga County leadership for securing this funding. This is one of many reasons I was proud to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, because transitioning to clean energy requires money, and the Biden-Harris Administration is making sure available dollars are equitably distributed," saidRep.Shontel Brown.

"This $130 million Climate Pollution Reduction grant from the U.S. EPA will be transformative for Cuyahoga County and Northeast Ohio," said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne."With these resources, we will be able to expand our solar infrastructure, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for delivering this investment in Cuyahoga County's future. This award underscores our commitment to climate leadership and to policies and programs that pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for all."

EPA made its selections through a rigorous grants competition that was designed to be fair and impartial. The Agency reviewed nearly 300applications that were submittedby entities from across the country and requested a total of nearly $33 billionin funding.

The 25 selected applications- from states, a Tribe, local governments, and coalitions of these entities - will receive federal funding to implement local and regional solutions. Many of these projects can be expanded and provide examples that other states, local governments, Tribes, and even businesses can replicate in their work to tackle the climate crisis.

Together, these selected projects will implement ambitious climate pollution reduction measures designed by states, Tribes andlocal governments that will achieve significant cumulative GHG reductions by 2030 and beyond.When estimates provided by all selected applicants are combined, the proposed projects would reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050, roughly theemissions from 5 million average homes' energy use each year for over 25 years.

EPA expects to announce up to an additional$300 million in selections under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program for Tribes, Tribal consortia, and territorieslater this summer.

State, Tribal, and local action is vital to deliver on the President's commitment to reduce climate pollution by over 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The innovative measures contained in the selected applications, developed with input from local communities, are expected to achieve substantial public health benefits such as reducing exposure to extreme heat, improving air quality, reducing energy burden for lower income Americans, improving climate resilience, and providing workforce and economic development opportunities, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants advance President Biden's historic Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

The grants will fund projects supporting the deployment of technologies and programs to reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful pollution across the country and build the infrastructure, housing, industry, and competitive economy needed for a clean energy future. These grants will also help businesses capitalize on new opportunities, spur economic growth and job creation in new and growing industries, and support development of training programs to prepare workers. EPA expects to award the funds later this year, once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

Many of the proposed projects contained in the selected applications announced today, as well as the $250 million in planning grant funding that EPA is providing under the CPRG program for development of Climate Action Plans by state, local, and Tribal governments across the country, will complement the Biden-Harris Administration's historic federal actions and national climate strategies across sectors. Those include: the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, the Administration's efforts to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035and make zero emissions construction common practiceby 2030, the Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap, the U.S. Buildings Decarbonization Blueprint, the Administration's climate-smart agriculture effortsand Nature Based Solutions Roadmap, the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, the National Climate Resilience Framework, and more.

Learn more about the selected applications

Learn more about the CPRG program