Congresswoman Summer Lee Celebrates $396 Million for Community-Driven Solutions to Cut Climate Pollution Across Pennsylvania
**For Immediate Release**
Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov
Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Summer Lee Celebrates $396 Million for Community-Driven Solutions to Cut Climate Pollution Across Pennsylvania
Washington, DC – July 22, 2024 – Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee proudly joins the Biden-Harris Administration in announcing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) allocation of $396,108,225 to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. This substantial funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aims to implement community-driven solutions that address the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition.
Congresswoman Lee said, “I’m thrilled to see this significant investment in Pennsylvania’s future through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. This funding is more than just a commitment to clean energy; it’s a commitment to our communities, especially those who have been historically marginalized and overburdened by pollution. By focusing on community-driven solutions, we are not only tackling the climate crisis but also ensuring that the benefits of this transition reach everyone, especially our most vulnerable communities. It is crucial that we work together at every level—local, state, and federal—to achieve these goals. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the Biden-Harris Administration, and all our partners for their dedication and support in this vital work. Together, we are building a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future for all Pennsylvanians.”
PADEP’s RISE-PA project, funded by this grant, will reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions through a competitive grants program and incentives for small-, medium-, and large-scale decarbonization projects across Pennsylvania.
These selected projects will implement ambitious climate pollution reduction measures designed by states, Tribes, and local governments that will achieve significant cumulative greenhouse gas reductions by 2030 and beyond. Together, these grants are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 148 million metric tons by 2030 and by 971 million metric tons by 2050, based on estimates provided by the selected applicants.
State, Tribal, and local action is vital to deliver on the President’s commitment to reduce climate pollution by over 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The innovative measures contained in the selected applications, developed with input from local communities, are expected to achieve substantial public health benefits such as reducing exposure to extreme heat, improving air quality, reducing energy burden for lower-income Americans, improving climate resilience, and providing workforce and economic development opportunities, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants advance President Biden’s historic Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The grants will fund projects supporting the deployment of technologies and programs to reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful pollution across the country and build the infrastructure, housing, industry, and competitive economy needed for a clean energy future. These grants will also help businesses capitalize on new opportunities, spur economic growth and job creation by supporting new and growing industries, and support development of training programs to prepare workers. EPA expects to award the funds later this year, once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,300 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.