953A0032

Description: The purpose of this award is to provide funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

The recipient will implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects and measures identified in a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) developed under a Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) planning grant.

Activities will be conducted through four main objectives: implementation of ambitious measures that will achieve significant cumulative GHG reductions by 2030 and beyond; pursuit of measures that will achieve substantial community benefits, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities; complementing other funding sources to maximize these GHG reductions and community benefits; and pursuit of innovative policies and programs that are replicable and can be scaled up across multiple jurisdictions.

Activities: Activities include establishing three methane reduction programs.

The Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Capture and Utilization Program (Program 1), administered by Virginia Energy, will install coal mine methane (CMM) capture systems on active or abandoned coal mines in Southwest Virginia and update statewide policy recommendations for reducing and beneficially using CMM.

The Landfill Methane Capture and Utilization Program (Program 2) will provide subaward(s) to capture methane from landfills, both reducing methane emissions and co-pollutant emissions.

The Food Rescue and Composting Grant Program (Program 3) will provide grants through a competitive subaward process to Commonwealth agencies and colleges that will reduce landfilled food waste through edible food rescue and increased food waste composting.

VA Energy and DEQ will design these programs and select projects that will provide substantial benefits in low income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs).

Subrecipient: The Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Capture and Utilization Program will be a subaward to VA Energy, and then grant funds will be distributed by VA Energy through a competitive procurement process.

DEQ will work with VA Energy to track methane reduction and other outputs and outcomes.

The Landfill Methane Capture and Utilization Program and the Food Rescue and Composting Grant Program will be administered by DEQ.

Grant funds for these programs will be distributed through subawards to selected subawardees.

Outcomes: Program 1 outputs include public meetings and community benefits agreements, policy recommendations and installation of approximately 25 wells.

Program 2 outputs include approximately 1-3 landfill methane reduction projects, creation of quality, high-paying construction and maintenance jobs, public meetings and community benefits agreements.

Program 3 outputs include 15-20 projects among colleges, universities and/or state agencies, distribution of public-facing engagement resources, training modules for subawardees to facilitate project implementation and quantity and makeup of composted materials and food waste repurposed.

Expected outcomes of Program 1 include 3,239,669.42 metric tons CO2e reduction by 2030 and 23,239,669.42 metric tons CO2e reductions by 2050; enhanced community understanding of program benefits and impacts; and reduction of overall energy costs.

Expected outcomes of Program 2 include 128,607.29 metric tons CO2e reductions by 2025; 1,414,680.19 metric tons CO2e reductions by 2050; and reduction in overall energy costs.

Expected outcomes of Program 3 include 30,656.62 metric tons CO2e reductions by 2025; 166,908.29 metric tons CO2e by 2050; enhanced understanding of food rescue and overall management processes; improved infrastructure and transport pathways to reduce food waste; and reduced food insecurity in LIDACs.

Expected outcomes for all three programs include improved air quality including the reduction of particulate matter (PM 2.5), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and siloxane, particularly in LIDACs.

Intended beneficiaries are Southwest Virginia residents.

Virginia Department Of Environmental Quality

5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 4 - ENSURE CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 4.1 - IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE LOCALIZED POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS 1 - PILLAR 1: CLEAN AIR, LAND, AND WATER FOR EVERY AMERICAN 1.1 - TBD 1 - A CLEANER, HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT 1.3 - REVITALIZE LAND AND PREVENT CONTAMINATION 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.2 - REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 4 - ENSURE CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 4.1 - IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE LOCALIZED POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 6.2 - REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 1 - PILLAR 1: CLEAN AIR, LAND, AND WATER FOR EVERY AMERICAN 1.1 - TBD 1 - TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS 1.1 - REDUCE EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE

66.046 - Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

EPA Region 3: Philadelphia [EPA - RO]

Virginia United States

State-Wide

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program: Implementation Grants (General Competition) (EPA-R-OAR-CPRGI-23-07)