On April 19, 2023, EPA released its framework for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a national scale competitive grant program created by section 60103 of the IRA. With $27 billion in appropriations, the GGRF is intended to “leverage public investment and private capital to catalyze investment in thousands of clean energy projects that reduce pollution and energy costs, increase energy security, and create good-paying jobs, especially in low-income and disadvantaged communities and places that have historically shouldered the burden of harmful pollution.” Further, the GGRF is expected to build community lending capacity as well as spur rooftop solar uptake across the country.
The framework outlines three complementary grant competitions that total $27 billion:
- the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund competition that funds two to three national nonprofits partnering with private capital providers to deliver at-scale financing to catalyze tens of thousands of clean energy projects;
- the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator competition that funds two to seven hub nonprofits to ensure households, small businesses, schools, and community institutions have access to financing for clean energy projects; and
- the $7 billion Solar for All competition that provides grants for up to 60 States, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities that are primed for residential and community solar investment. These three programs will be implemented in alignment with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative.
EPA invites feedback on the three competition descriptions in advance of the agency’s release of the final Notice of Funding Opportunities for each competition grant in June 2023. Stakeholders may send feedback to ggrf@epa.gov. The deadline for submission of feedback is May 12, 2023 at 11:59pm ET.
EPA will also hold six public listening sessions on this proposed framework. Details on the listening sessions are available here.