Tackling Climate Pollution
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA will improve the lives of millions of Americans by reducing pollution in neighborhoods where people live, work, play, and go to school; accelerating environmental justice efforts in communities overburdened by pollution for far too long; and tackling our biggest climate challenges while creating jobs and delivering energy security.
Here’s how the Inflation Reduction Act will deliver progress for people and the planet, while tackling climate pollution.
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants - $5 Billion
States, Tribes, cities, and agencies are on the frontlines of fighting climate pollution. New grants will support their efforts to develop and implement strong, local greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
- Learn more about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
- Docket closed January 18, 2023. If you have further questions, please reach out to IRAStakeholders@epa.gov.
Methane Emissions Reduction Program - $1.55 Billion
Methane is a greenhouse gas that is about 27-30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and climate scientists around the globe have called for urgent action to address it. The program will reduce potent methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by offering financial assistance, which may include grants, rebates, contracts, and loans, and technical assistance to a broad range of eligible recipients. The program also establishes a waste emissions charge for methane from applicable facilities that report more than 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program petroleum and natural gas systems source category and that exceed statutorily specified waste emissions thresholds.
- Learn more about the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
- Docket closed January 18, 2023. If you have further questions, please reach out to IRAStakeholders@epa.gov.
Environmental Product Declaration Assistance - $100 Million
In Fiscal Year 2024, EPA will provide up to $100 million in grants that support efforts to report and reduce embodied greenhouse gas emissions for construction materials and products. The goal of this grant program is to support businesses that manufacture construction materials and products to develop and verify Environmental Product Declarations.
EPA will also provide technical assistance and tools to help States and Tribal Nations, manufacturers, institutional buyers, real estate developers, builders, and others measure, report and substantially lower the levels of embodied carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction materials and products. These programs will support improved data on embodied greenhouse gas emissions through measurement, standardization, transparency and reporting criteria.
Label Program for Substantially Lower Carbon Construction Materials - $100 Million
EPA will develop a carbon labeling program to identify construction materials and products with substantially lower levels of embodied carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with all relevant stages of their production, use and disposal.
Low-Emissions Electricity Program - $87 Million
Electric power generates the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Approximately 60% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. Prioritizing underserved communities, through education, partnership, technical assistance, and outreach, EPA will work to reduce emissions from domestic energy generation and use.
- Learn more about EPA's report on the Electric Sector Emissions Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Docket closed January 18, 2023. If you have further questions, please reach out to IRAStakeholders@epa.gov.
Permitting and Approvals - $40 Million
This funding will support EPA’s development of efficient, accurate, and timely permits and environmental reviews for clean energy and infrastructure projects. EPA will hire and train new staff, improve its public engagement and transparency, and invest in information technology tools to automate its permitting processes. EPA will implement each of these in coordination with its national program offices and regions.
The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act Implementation - $38.5 Million
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a super pollutant used for cooling and refrigeration. This program will deliver the HFC reductions needed to combat the climate crisis and complement EPA’s ongoing work to cap and phase down HFCs. This funding will be a combination of competitive grants, monitoring, and compliance.
- Learn more about the AIM Act.
- Docket closed January 18, 2023. If you have further questions, please reach out to IRAStakeholders@epa.gov.
Methane Emissions Monitoring - $20 Million
EPA will provide grants and equipment to improve measurement of emissions from methane flares and landfills; procure a set of methane measurement equipment that can be loaned to states, local governments and Tribes; and provide grants/awards to states, local governments and Tribes for developing their capabilities for advanced methane measurement.
- Docket closed January 18, 2023. If you have further questions, please reach out to IRAStakeholders@epa.gov.
Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS) Program - $15 Million
EPA’s RFS program requires that transportation fuels contain a minimum amount of renewable fuel to help reduce greenhouse gases. This funding will support further investment in biofuels and continue to support the RFS program.
Greenhouse Gas Corporate Reporting Program - $5 Million
This program will standardize corporate commitments and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase transparency around these commitments.
- Docket closed January 18, 2023. If you have further questions, please reach out to IRAStakeholders@epa.gov.
Supporting State GHG and Zero-Emission Transportation Standards - $5 million
EPA will support grants to states to adopt and implement greenhouse gas and zero-emission standards for mobile sources, such as passenger cars and trucks, as well as boats.