EPA Announces $70 Million in Climate Grants for Dillard University and the City of New Orleans

On August 27, 2024, EPA announced $70 Million in grants for Dillard University and the City of New Orleans. $19,944,576 in community grant funding will go to Dillard University and their partner United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program (CPRG) will provide $49,975,589 to the City of New Orleans for implementation of community-driven climate solutions. IRA section 60114 amends the Clean Air Act to add a new Section 137, which appropriates $250 million to the EPA Administrator to “make a grant to at least one eligible entity in each state” to cover the costs of developing “a plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas air pollution,” an initiative called the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program. IRA section 60201 amends the Clean Air Act by adding a new section 138, which appropriates $2.8 billion to the EPA Administrator to award grants to community-based nonprofit organizations as well as partnerships between those organizations and Indian tribes, local governments, and institutions of higher education for a variety of air pollution prevention and remediation activities as well as risk mitigation.