Montana receives $49.7 million federal grant for community programs to cut pollution
Among other things, the Environmental Protection Agency grant will upgrade schools, public transportation, and the state’s electric grid.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced on July 22 that Montana would receive a grant for local programs focused on reducing air pollution and cutting carbon emissions.
“The [Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation]’s climate resiliency projects will provide funding to improve soil health across the state and reduce pollution from agriculture through community-driven solutions and local initiatives developed by Montanans,” EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker said in a statement.
The $49.7 million grant comes from the agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The Republican members of Montana’s congressional delegation opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, and Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, was the only elected federal official in the state to back the legislation.
In the proposal submitted by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to the EPA, the state agency outlined four areas of investment that the grant would be used for.
Montana schools will receive upgrades to their HVAC systems, lighting, waste management and lighting, with an eye towards conserving energy. The agency predicted that the proposed changes would improve health and lead to cost savings for school operations.
Grant funds will also be used to convert vehicle fleets for schools, public transportation, and other government agencies to electric or other alternative power sources.
The state’s electric grid will receive upgrades designed to be more energy efficient and durable during extreme weather events.
Additionally, commercial property owners will receive funds that can be used to upgrade buildings to be more energy efficient and to utilize renewable energy sources.
Montana’s grant application was one of 25 applications across 30 states that were awarded on July 22 by the EPA. According to the agency, it is estimated that at full implementation all of the projects will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas pollution by 971 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050.
Carbon dioxide emissions are the leading cause of climate change. In Montana, increasing temperatures due to climate change have led to more frequent heat waves and earlier snow melt. Drought caused by climate change has negatively affected the agricultural industry and increased the risk of forest fires.
