Funds will advance Oregon’s efforts to meet climate goals
On July 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the State of Oregon will receive $197 million from the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Director Leah Feldon said, “This is an immense honor and demonstration of trust from EPA to provide so many resources to our state. Led by DEQ’s Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, this work was a multi-media and multi-agency effort to address climate change across Oregon.”
In March, DEQ submitted an application through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program to EPA requesting $197 million to support 12 measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, buildings and waste materials identified in Oregon’s Priority Climate Action Plan.
DEQ, along with Governor Tina Kotek and EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller, announced at a press conference on Monday that EPA awarded Oregon 100% of the requested funds.
Here are just a few of the outcomes of this funding described in DEQ’s grant application:
- 4,403 EV rebates for lower-income households.
- 57 grants to support medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles and infrastructure.
- 9,420 incentives to construct new, affordable, energy efficient multi- and single-family units.
- 12,000 heat pump incentives in communities and rental homes.
- 940 projects to reuse existing buildings for housing and develop space-efficient housing.
- 22-26 projects to improve food waste recovery infrastructure and fund smaller-scale infrastructure projects.
- Up to six projects to reduce methane emissions from landfills by installing gas collection systems or other technologies.
By Lauren Wirtis, DEQ Communications Manager