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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has received $3 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a plan to decrease the industrial sector’s emissions. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
DEP receives $3M to develop climate action plan
Ed Gruver//January 16, 2024//
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has received $3 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a Priority Climate Action Plan to decrease the industrial sector’s emissions.
Once the plan is completed, the DEP will be eligible to apply for up to $500 million to implement it. The DEP’s plan will focus on a statewide industrial decarbonization grant program, known as Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA). The program provides funding for industries to reduce carbon and benefit the health and safety of surrounding communities.
“RISE PA aims to help spur private sector investment in greenhouse gas emissions technologies by helping to offset the upfront costs of large-scale, transformative projects,” DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley said in a statement. “We are not just reducing emissions but also reducing barriers by turning high abatement costs into high-impact solutions that shape a cleaner, more prosperous future for industry and Pennsylvania communities alike.”
The industrial sector is the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sector, accounting for just over 30% of Pennsylvania’s total GHG emissions, according to the 2023 Pennsylvania Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report.
DEP is seeking funding for RISE PA from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants through the Inflation Reduction Act.
DEP is also seeking input from industry, academia, community-based organizations, and other interested stakeholders on issues related to the design and implementation of RISE PA. DEP is specifically interested in receiving input on program design, size, scope, scale, and award structure as well as the potential outputs and metrics, including emissions reductions and community benefits.
Executive Director of Critical Investments Brian Regli said the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants present a unique opportunity for Pennsylvania to become a national leader in industrial decarbonization.
“By mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and curbing harmful co-pollutants, RISE PA seeks to champion environmental protection and invites industry leaders to become pioneers in shaping a sustainable future,” said Regli.
