The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act provided $27 billion for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Most of those funds will be distributed to state, regional, or national entities who will then award funds to local entities. Those intermediaries will be seeking community-based partners.
In order to facilitate partnerships, the EPA has created short Partner Connection Forms for each program in the GGRF. Forms can be completed for all grant programs of interest. The EPA will send you information about the other organizations that filled out the form, so you can identify potential partners. Other organizations can use the information to contact you for potential partnership. The Partner Connection forms should be completed by June 20.
A description of the programs within the GGRF follows, with a link to the Partner Connection Forms. There is no commitment by signing up to be a potential partner, and this is not the only or last opportunity to become a partner and eventually receive funds directly or as a sub-recipient.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will provide competitive grants to mobilize financing and leverage private capital for clean energy and climate projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions with an emphasis on projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. Applications will open this summer.
GRRF Programs
- Solar For All – This $7 billion competition will provide up to 60 grants to 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. Qualified projects include decarbonization retrofits of existing buildings.
- Clean Communities Investment Accelerator – $6 billion in funding for 2-7 nonprofit “hubs” to rapidly build the clean financing capacity of specific networks of lenders to ensure that households, small businesses, schools, and community institutions in low-income and disadvantaged communities have access to financing for cost-saving and pollution-reducing clean technology projects. At least 95% of grant funds are required to pass through directly to community lenders.
- National Clean Investment Fund – $14 billion in funding for 2-3 national nonprofits that will partner with private capital providers to deliver financing at scale to businesses, communities, community lenders, and others, catalyzing tens of thousands of clean technology projects.
Thanks to NACEDA (National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations) for this information.