Adam RollinsThis story was originally published in the Government Contracting Pipeline newsletter from Strategic Partnerships, Inc. To have the latest government contracting news stories from across the country delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award $307 million to help Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) implement community-driven solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, deploy clean energy solutions and combat the climate crisis. The funds will support state initiatives to develop solar-powered solutions, increase soil carbon sequestration and electrify irrigation wells to support low-income households.
The funds will support the DEE’s ONE RED program, an initiative designed to advance energy-efficiency measures to reduce energy costs across several economic sectors, mitigate air pollution and strengthen the economy. The department estimates the project will use the funds to remove 134.4 million metric tons of GHG emissions from the atmosphere by 2050.
The DEE will invest in the state’s public incentive program, supporting statewide plans to upgrade nonresidential buildings and facilities for better energy efficiency, electrification and weatherization. In addition, the program will improve the quality of life for low-income and disadvantaged communities by improving air quality and providing financial assistance for critical home repairs.
The state will install solar arrays at water and wastewater treatment facilities, reducing energy costs and generation of electricity using fossil fuels in rural communities. In addition, plans include converting irrigation wells from diesel fuels to electricity.
The DEE will expand support for low-income rural communities by reducing nitrous oxide emissions by 14.5 million metric tons, prioritizing precision agricultural practices to protect public health and local ecosystems. As part of the state’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, the project will incentivize the production and use of biochar by supporting regional hubs for manure management.
The EPA allocated the funds from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. The CPRG program provides financial support to eligible recipients to develop and deploy plans to reduce harmful air pollutants. Awarded projects will address climate change, reduce air pollution, support environmental justice and transition the nation to clean energy.
Nebraska is one of 25 applicants chosen to receive a portion of the recently announced $4.3 billion in CPRG funding. The most recent round of funding prioritizes reducing GHG emissions in the agriculture and working lands, transportation, commercial and residential buildings, industry, waste and materials management and electric power sectors.
Photo by Sungrow EMEA on Unsplash
