News from the White House

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new grant competition will fund state, local, and Tribal programs and policies that support environmental justice, advance clean-energy solutions, and tackle climate pollution. By funding measures that bring economic and health benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants competition will also advance President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative. Visit EPA’s website to get more details. 

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Nineteen federal projects will receive over $28 million in funding under the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) grant program. These projects are projected to save $22.7 million in annual energy costs. The AFFECT grant program plays a key role in achieving net-zero emissions from federal buildings by 2045. Visit the Department of Energy’s website to learn how this impacts the Biden Administration’s Federal Sustainability Plan. 

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To help mitigate the negative impact federal agencies have on the environment, President Biden signed an executive order to set up a new Office of Environmental Justice. The office will hold federal agencies responsible for harmful environmental health impacts on communities and work with them to prevent future harm. Discover what other environmental justice initiatives were announced.

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President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act advances the Justice40 Initiative by providing $370 billion to fund clean energy solutions. The newly released guidebook explains the tax incentives and investment programs related to the law. Read on to access one-page summaries of each programs’ eligible uses, learn about potential beneficiaries and find other important information.

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A rule presented by the Biden-Harris Administration would mandate the electrification of newly constructed federal buildings. If the rule goes into effect, existing federal buildings will need to be electrified as they are renovated to meet President Biden’s net-zero emissions goal. This ensures all federal buildings are fully decarbonized by 2030. 

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The Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 2022 Federal Agency Call (FAC) is soliciting technical solutions from federal agencies that help them meet the conservation requirements of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act. If you wish to apply, register and submit application materials through the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Funding Opportunity Exchange by February 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m. ET. 

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The White House Council on Environmental Quality announced the launch of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool in November. The online, interactive map uses census data to help federal agencies identify areas most in need of climate and sustainability investment. It’s part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to deliver 40% of federal environmental funds to communities overburdened by pollution and historic underinvestment.

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On December 8^th, 2021, President Biden signed a new Executive Order establishing a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 for federal operations, with an incremental goal of 65% reduction by 2030. The Federal Government plans to achieve this through a series of drastic changes, including transitioning to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and buildings and tackling emissions throughout the supply chain.

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The U.S. Department of Energy set aside $32 million in funding to complete over 30 affordable housing, building retrofit projects. These projects will demonstrate new, low-carbon solutions developed by a separate 2019 DOE funding opportunity. If proven successful, these technologies and renovation techniques could influence the future of building modernization. 

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