EPA Offers $10M for Climate Change Showcase Communities

A total of $10 million will be distributed next January in Climate Showcase Communities grants.

"Ending climate change and moving to a sustainable, clean energy future begins on the ground in our communities,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, announcing the new grants program today.

"We're offering a helping hand to local areas that are leading the way in confronting climate change, and a call to action for anyone concerned about making a difference where they live," she said.

The EPA is requesting proposals from local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and inter-tribal consortia to create replicable models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions, and improve the environmental, economic, public health, and social conditions in a community.

The agency expects to award about 30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

Approximately five percent of the funds, or about $500,000, is being set aside for tribal governments.

A 50 percent cost-share is required for recipients, with the exception of tribal governments and intertribal consortia, which are exempt from matching requirements under this grant.

"We can cut energy costs and reduce harmful emissions at the local level, and build a model for fighting climate change in every community," Jackson said.

The Climate Showcase Communities grant program aims to create models of sustainable community action that generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions while improving the environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in a community.

Knoxville, Tennessee Mayor Bill Haslam and Susan Edwards of the Knoxville Utilities Board celebrate the purchase of 400 blocks of renewable energy. April 30, 2009. (Photo courtesy City of Knoxville)

During the grant program, EPA will offer training and technical support to grant recipients, and share best practices and lessons learned with communities across the country.

The idea for that Climate Showcase Communities grants originated with a national coalition of cities and counties known as Climate Communities. The coalition is managed by The Ferguson Group, a Washington, DC, government affairs firm focused on educating federal policymakers about the essential role of local governments in addressing climate change and promoting a strong local-federal partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Communities worked with Congressman Norm Dicks, a Washington Democrat who chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, to create the Climate Showcase Communities initiative through the Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations Bill.

That legislation authorized EPA to administer the $10 million competitive grant program to help local and tribal governments accomplish their climate change goals.

Climate Communities takes the position that local governments are uniquely suited to implement job creating programs and projects that will reduce energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings and in the transportation sector by improving transit and reducing vehicle miles traveled.

Another advocate for local government action to protect the climate is ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, which has started a Climate Resilient Communities program that grant applicants can look to for inspiration.

The city of Santa Cruz, California, for instance, is studying ways to buffer the river levee, counter coastal erosion and remap flood zones to deal with climate-related sea level rise.

Florida's Miami-Dade County has formed a Climate Change Advisory Task Force task force that is developing new standards for buildings, roads, ports, airports and bridges to deal with sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and severe weather.

In an effort to prepare for rising sea levels, temperatures and air pollution associated with climate change, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission now factors in climate change impacts when considering developments in the region.

New York City is planning to create an inventory of tunnels, airports, subways and other at-risk infrastructure.

The state of Alaska is investigating how to protect or relocate villages at risk from erosion caused by melting permafrost, wave surges or flooding associated with climate change. Newtok, Shismaref, Kivalina, and Shaktoolik are a few of the Native Alaskan villages at risk.

And at least five states – Alaska, California, Maryland, Oregon and Washington – are working on statewide climate preparedness plans.

The Climate Showcase Communities grant program is administered by EPA's Local Climate and Energy Program. Click here for additional grant information and an application form. Climate Showcase Communities grant proposals are due by July 22, 2009, at 4:00 pm EDT. Grants are expected to be awarded in January 2010.

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