California has received a federal grant of $4.5 million to advance statewide public and private building decarbonization.
The funding is part of $18.5 million allocated by the U.S. Department of Energy to four states and 20 local governments in the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.
The new California program that received the grant is called the Local Government Building Decarbonization Challenge.
Buildings represent a quarter of California’s greenhouse gas emissions. Local action in this sector is essential to meeting the state’s goal to reduce emissions 85% by 2045 from 1990 levels.
Through the challenge, local governments in the state can pursue diverse projects, such as building decarbonization planning, developing stronger building energy codes and creating energy efficiency and electrification workforce development programs.
These projects, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help advance state and local government efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce climate pollution and lower overall energy use.
“No one knows communities’ energy improvement needs better than the state and local governments, and the Biden-Harris Administration is helping support these ongoing efforts for a clean energy future for all,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.
The grants she added, “put state and local governments in the driver’s seat to reduce emissions, increase climate resiliency and strengthen communities for generations to come.”
Overall, the program provides more than $430 million in formula grant funding to 2,708 entities, including states, territories, local governments and Tribes.
Recipients have the option of choosing activities from 14 eligible categories of clean energy projects and programs that fulfill clean energy objectives. This program also advances the President’s Justice40 Initiative, with a goal to deliver 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities overburdened by pollution.
Governments receiving awards this month will use program funds to conduct energy assessments and efficiency upgrades at community centers and schools, install solar panels on municipal facilities, develop climate and energy plans, advance local recycling initiatives, launch building electrification campaigns for individual households, and more.
Other states receiving funding include Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Utah. Communities that were awarded grants include Cobb County, Ga., Dane County, Wisc., Arlington, Tex. and Prince George’s County, Md.
