Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Section 134(a)(1) - Zero Emission Technologies Grant Program

 

Section 60103 of Public Law 117-169, 136 Stat. 1818 (August 16, 2022), commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), added Section 134 to the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7434, to establish the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The GGRF will make funding available on a competitive basis for financial and technical assistance for projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution, with a particular emphasis on projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The overarching objectives of the GGRF are to (1) reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants; (2) deliver benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities; and (3) mobilize financing and private capital to stimulate additional deployment of greenhouse gas and air pollution reducing projects. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will be implemented via two programs: 1) The $7 billion Zero-Emissions Technologies Program, which will award $7 billion in competitive grants to implement Clean Air Act Section 134 (a)(1), and 2) The $19.97 billion General Assistance and Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities Program, which will award $19.97 billion in competitive grants to implement Clean Air Act Section 134(a)(2) and Section 134(a)(3). This assistance listing (66.959) describes the $7 billion Zero-Emissions Technologies Program. A related assistance listing (66.957) describes the $19.97 billion General Assistance and Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities Program. The Zero-Emissions Technologies Program will prioritize residential and community solar projects, as well as storage technologies and upgrades related to these projects.

Active 66.959 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Not applicable. Clean Air Act, Section 134(a)(1), 42 U.S.C. 7434
National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F)
EPA Appropriation Acts States, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible recipients, as those terms are defined in the Clean Air Act, are eligible for grants from this competition. The term "state" is defined in Section 302(d) of the Clean Air Act to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianna Islands. "Tribal governments" include Federally recognized Tribes, consistent with Section 302(r) of the Clean Air Act. "Municipality" is defined in Section 302(f) of the Clean Air Act to include a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law. Definitions of states, municipalities, and Tribal governments include agencies or instrumentalities of states, municipalities, or tribes. Section 134(c)(1) defines "eligible recipient" as a nonprofit organization that (A) is designed to provide capital, leverage private capital and provide other forms of financial assistance for the rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission products, technologies, and services; (B) does not take deposits other than deposits from repayments and other revenue received from financial assistance using the grant funds; (C) is funded by public or charitable contributions; and (D) invests in or finances projects alone or in conjunction with other investors. As described under the "Assistance Listing Description" above, these funds must benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities, which will be defined in the NOFO. In the NOFO, EPA may limit which eligible recipients may apply for the competitive funding opportunity under this assistance listing, consistent with EPA's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. This program will have widespread benefits to residents of the United States in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country through the deployment of zero-emissions technologies, including residential and community solar, associated storage technologies, and related upgrades. Any required documentation will be described in the NOFO. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the NOFO. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. EPA anticipates announcing the competition early Summer 2023. The deadline for submission of applications, anticipated selections and anticipated award dates will be communicated in the NOFO. From 120 to 180 days. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E - Disputes, as applicable. Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the NOFO. Please refer to applicable NOFOs and any supplemental program guidance for information on how assistance may be used under this program, or if there are any funding use restrictions. Performance Reports: Reporting requirements shall be determined at the time of grant award. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is . While there is no statutory or regulatory cost sharing requirement for this program, as a matter of policy the Agency may impose a cost sharing requirement in specific competitions. If the Agency decides to do this, the cost sharing terms will be stated in Section III of the NOFO.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. EPA is developing this program and will determine the length and phasing of awards. Assistance agreements may be incrementally (annually) or fully funded. None/Not specified. Michael Band
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460 USA
band.michael@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-3155 https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund 68-0103-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $7,000,000,000.00; - As required by Section 134(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act, EPA must obligate the $7 billion for grants under this program by September 30, 2024. The NOFO will clarify the timeline of the grant competition and funding obligations. EPA is developing this program and will determine the range and average of financial assistance as part of the NOFO development process. For the Zero-Emissions Technologies Program, costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200 and 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs). Not applicable.