66.959: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Section 134(a)(1) - Zero Emission Technologies Grant Program

66.959

Active

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Feb. 28, 2023

Feb. 28, 2023

Section 60103 of Public Law 117-169, 136 Stat. 1818 (August 16, 2022), commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), added Section 134 to the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7434, to establish the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The GGRF will make funding available on a competitive basis for financial and technical assistance for projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution, with a particular emphasis on projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The overarching objectives of the GGRF are to (1) reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants; (2) deliver benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities; and (3) mobilize financing and private capital to stimulate additional deployment of greenhouse gas and air pollution reducing projects. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will be implemented via two programs: 1) The $7 billion Zero-Emissions Technologies Program, which will award $7 billion in competitive grants to implement Clean Air Act Section 134 (a)(1), and 2) The $19.97 billion General Assistance and Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities Program, which will award $19.97 billion in competitive grants to implement Clean Air Act Section 134(a)(2) and Section 134(a)(3). This assistance listing (66.959) describes the $7 billion Zero-Emissions Technologies Program. A related assistance listing (66.957) describes the $19.97 billion General Assistance and Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities Program. The Zero-Emissions Technologies Program will prioritize residential and community solar projects, as well as storage technologies and upgrades related to these projects.

States, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible recipients, as those terms are defined in the Clean Air Act, are eligible for grants from this competition. The term “state” is defined in Section 302(d) of the Clean Air Act to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianna Islands. “Tribal governments” include Federally recognized Tribes, consistent with Section 302(r) of the Clean Air Act. “Municipality” is defined in Section 302(f) of the Clean Air Act to include a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law. Definitions of states, municipalities, and Tribal governments include agencies or instrumentalities of states, municipalities, or tribes. Section 134(c)(1) defines “eligible recipient” as a nonprofit organization that (A) is designed to provide capital, leverage private capital and provide other forms of financial assistance for the rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission products, technologies, and services; (B) does not take deposits other than deposits from repayments and other revenue received from financial assistance using the grant funds; (C) is funded by public or charitable contributions; and (D) invests in or finances projects alone or in conjunction with other investors. As described under the "Assistance Listing Description" above, these funds must benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities, which will be defined in the NOFO. In the NOFO, EPA may limit which eligible recipients may apply for the competitive funding opportunity under this assistance listing, consistent with EPA’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

This program will have widespread benefits to residents of the United States in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country through the deployment of zero-emissions technologies, including residential and community solar, associated storage technologies, and related upgrades.

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