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In this issue:

• Bond Act Survey
• White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council - Virtual Public Meeting
• Decarbonization Projects Funding
• Community Change Grants Program
• Urban and Community Forestry Grant
• Equitable Urban Greening Webinar

Share Your Ideas: Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act

This spring and summer, the public and potential funding applicants had the opportunity to learn more about the Bond Act at a series of educational listening sessions.

Missed out on attending a session? Check out the virtual session recordings.

Share your ideas for how the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act could help your community and environment. Complete a short survey to collect project ideas and other feedback. This survey will provide stakeholders and members of the public a place to share these ideas.

We need your input to help the New York State team select projects and deliver funds while also ensuring a transparent and collaborative process that benefits all New Yorkers.

The deadline for ideas and comments has been extended to September 30.

White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council Holds Public Meeting

The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) will convene a virtual public meeting Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from approximately 3:00 - 8:00 PM ET. This free meeting is open to all members of the public. Individual registration is required and is available through the scheduled end time of the meeting day. 

For more information on this meeting and to register please visit the EPA website.

Public Comment Period: The WHEJAC is interested in receiving public comments relevant to current charges, topics, and questions currently under consideration:  

• The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
• The Environmental Justice Scorecard.
• Carbon Management.
• Ways that the WHEJAC could recommend advancing environmental justice through a whole-government approach. 
• Examples of environmental hazards of particular concern for Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Nations related to Federal activities that may affect sacred sites and areas of cultural significance, cultural or other traditions or practices, subsistence, and ways of life. 
• Ways in which the Federal government can address community impacts, and concerns of Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Nations. 
• Ways in which the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge into Federal decision-making could help address environmental hazards and environmental justice concerns. 

More information on each charge is available on the EPA website.

Priority to speak during the meeting will be given to registrants with a public comment relevant to current WHEJAC charges. Every effort will be made to hear from as many registered public commenters during the time specified on the agenda.

Registration to speak during the meeting closes at 11:59 PM EDT, September 21, 2023.

The public can submit written comments in 3 different ways: 

1. By entering comments in the Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEJECR-2023-0099 at Regulations.gov
2. By using the webform; or
3. By sending comments via email to whejac@epa.gov, for comments with additional materials. 

Written comments can be submitted through October 10, 2023.

The meeting agenda and other support materials including the public comments will be posted in the public docket EPA-HQ-OEJECR-2023-0099 as they become available on the Regulations.gov website.

Learn more about the WHEJAC.

For questions about this event, please contact Audrie Washington at whejac@epa.gov or by phone at (202) 441-7295. 

$20 Million Financing Fund for Decarbonization Projects in Disadvantaged Communities

$20 million State Energy Financing Fund is available for entities offering affordable financing for decarbonization projects that deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities. This financing vehicle provides a complementary funding opportunity for entities also applying to the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program’s Section 1703, to support capital deployment for projects in New York State that reduce emissions from the built environment, including buildings and other infrastructure.

Through the new program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), direct capital support and credit enhancements are now available to entities actively working with or developing plans to apply to the LPO Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program’s Section 1703 to deploy capital into decarbonization projects in New York State. NYSERDA seeks to support applicants that will provide loans or other forms of financing or direct support for clean energy and sustainable infrastructure projects, with a focus on projects that reduce emissions in buildings. Eligible projects must be decarbonization interventions that are designed to maintain or reduce customer energy bills, maintain or improve building comfort, and deliver resilient, durable solutions, or otherwise contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Awards are contingent upon the applicant’s approval for the federal LPO Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program’s Section 1703 financing. Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis and individual awards may not exceed the lesser of $5 million or 3 percent of an eligible applicant’s proposed project portfolio amount, subject to structuring terms and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Applicants will be required to report on the number and dollar amount of investments into New York’s DACs funded through their respective Title 1703 facilities. More information about this funding is available on NYSERDA’s website.

NYSERDA will host a webinar about this solicitation on October 10, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. EST. Interested parties can register to attend. This webinar will be recorded and posted on the NYSERDA website.

Information on Upcoming Funding - Community Change Grant Program (Community Change Grants)

EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Grants) will open Autumn 2023 and to aid potential applicants, we have released information on our website in advance on this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to provide a preview of important parts of the Community Change Grants. This includes eligibility and submission requirements, definitions, frequently asked questions (PDF), and more.

To learn more about the upcoming Community Change Grants, visit the EPA website.

In addition, EPA will continue to host informational webinars and provide additional resources on the Inflation Reduction Act Environmental and Climate Justice Program website. Plus you can receive details and updates on the announcement through Twitter at @EPAEnvJustice. 

Please note that all information is subject to change and does not supersede the requirements that will be shared in the NOFO.

Urban and Community Forestry Grant

The USDA Forest Service recently announced the 2023 Urban and Community Forestry Grant awards, funded from the Inflation Reduction Act.

• In New York State, a total of $73.55 million was awarded, plus an additional $13.5 million to the State to be given out in additional grants.
• Grant awards will help boost the tree cover in urban, suburban, and rural communities and work to increase equitable access to trees and green spaces and the many benefits they provide.
• Community benefits of expanded tree cover include cooling communities, improving mental health and well-being, increasing access to green spaces, increasing property values, and creating environmental jobs.
• Environmental benefits of expanded tree cover include conserving energy, absorbing storm water, creating wildlife habitat, and filtering air and water.

For more information, check out the Forest Service’s website.

Equitable Urban Greening Webinar

ReLeaf is offering a free lunch time webinar on October 15, 2023, 12pm EST, with Dr. Lincoln Larson of NC State on his research into equitable urban greening. Trees are excellent partners in the fight against climate change and recent federal funding in the Inflation Reduction Act present a “tree-mendous” opportunity to add trees to our communities. However, developing equitable tree planting plans that communities can successfully execute is a challenge. Dr. Larson’s research uses social science methods to understand human-environment interactions and address natural resource management and conservation issues, so that program managers can develop strong community supported programs. Registration is required for this free event; register now .