A new funding opportunity provides up to $1 billion for states and “units of local government with the authority to adopt building energy codes to adopt and implement the latest building energy codes, zero energy building codes, or equivalent codes or standards.” The funding is the latest tranche being released from the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. Details on the funding opportunity are available on CLPHA’s Green Funding Clearinghouse.
This opportunity assists eligible entities in further decarbonizing their buildings through the adoption of the latest national model building energy codes, zero energy codes, other codes that deliver equivalent or greater energy savings, including innovative approaches to decarbonize existing buildings through certain measurable and enforceable requirements.
Of the nearly $1 billion total, $330 million is available to adopt and implement the latest building energy code that meets or exceeds the energy savings in the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1–2019 for commercial buildings, while $670 million is available to adopt and implement a building energy code that meets or exceeds the zero energy provisions in the 2021 IECC code or an equivalent stretch code. Individual awards may vary between $1 million and $20 million.
The funding is available through the Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). Interested applicants can register with and submit application materials through the Infrastructure eXCHANGE, which is SCEP’s online application portal.
First Round Concept Papers are due February 9, 2024, and First Round Full Applications are due April 30, 2024. Pending the continued availability of funding, Concept Papers for the Second Round will be due in September 2024, Second Round Full Applications will be due in November 2024, along with a Third Round in 2025.
- View the FOA and apply on the Infrastructure eXCHANGE
- View the press release and overview
PHAs can apply to EPA’s Community Change Grants Program; funds available for a wide range of purposes
The EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and the deadline to apply is November 21, 2024. CLPHA has detailed information on this program available in the Green Funding Clearinghouse.
Applicants eligible to apply and receive grants under this NOFO are (1) a partnership between two community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs), or (2) a partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a federally recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education. PHAs are eligible to apply and can use funds for a wide range of purposes.
The activities to be performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories:
- Climate resiliency and adaptation.
- Energy-Efficient, Healthy, Resilient Housing and Buildings
- Install energy efficiency measures such as insulation, double or triple glazed windows, “cool roofs” that reflect sunlight, and energy management systems in public buildings.
- Install ventilation systems to help improve indoor air quality during pollution-related events such as wildfires.
- Install or retrofit homes or multi-family housing with higher-efficiency electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems (e.g., heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric and induction stoves, electric clothes dryers).
- Reduce heat island effects by installing cool roofs on homes, multi-family housing, or public buildings.
- Implement other similar projects qualified under HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP).
- Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.
- Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation.
- Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure.
- Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.
- Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.
- Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.
For more information, view the NOFO on grants.gov, or view the program page on EPA’s website.
PHAs will be able to apply for subgrants in Summer 2024
The U.S. EPA has awarded $600 million to 11 Grantmakers as part of the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grant Program, which will reduce barriers to federal funds and issue thousands of environmental justice grants over the next three years. The grantmakers will award subgrants to provide environmental justice funding while improving the efficiency of the awards process. Detailed information on program eligibility, allowable uses of funding, FAQs, and more are available on CLPHA’s Green Funding Clearinghouse.
PHAs will be able to apply to a Grantmaker for a subgrant to fund a range of different environmental project activities, including (but not limited to) small local clean-ups, local emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency programs, environmental workforce development programs for local jobs reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fenceline air quality and asthma-related projects, healthy homes programs, and projects addressing illegal dumping.
PHAs will apply to one of the 11 selected grantmakers to receive subgrants. Applications for a subgrant from the 11 grantmakers are expected to become available by Summer 2024.