New grant funding supports the state’s efforts to speed up the clean energy transition

The City of Boulder announced today that its partner the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), has been awarded a monumental $199.7 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. This significant investment, made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to reduce building emissions, clean our air, improve public health and create new jobs.

"The City of Boulder is committed to sustainability, equity, and resilience, striving to enhance the quality of life for all community members while leading the way in environmental stewardship and climate action,” said Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Speer. “This award marks a significant milestone in this process. Our efforts will support workforce training, generate well-paying jobs, and drive innovation in the built sector, paving the way for a resilient, equitable, and sustainable future."

This five-year, transformative project will improve 60,000 homes and businesses across our region with a particular focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities, leading to a nearly 150 million metric ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings are responsible for more than a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and make up two-thirds of Boulder’s emissions. The initiative will replace fossil fuel-burning appliances in homes and businesses and foster a future-forward workforce, enhancing public health, spurring innovation and invigorating the economy.

"The city is proud to be a partner to DRCOG in bringing this investment to our region. This grant is a testament to our collective commitment to combating climate change and fostering a sustainable future," said Boulder City Manager, Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. "This funding will help not just Boulder, but our entire region, achieve ambitious climate goals while ensuring that all community members benefit from cleaner air and a healthier environment."

The $200 million award is one of the largest single grants to Colorado state and local agencies under the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $369 billion in federal funding and consumer incentives to support clean energy adoption.

Visit our website to learn more about the City of Boulder’s climate work.

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced selected recipients of over $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The 25 selected applications will fund projects in 30 states, including one Tribe, that target reducing greenhouse gas pollution from six sectors: transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture/ natural and working lands, and waste and materials management.

Together, these selected projects will implement ambitious climate pollution reduction measures designed by states, Tribes and local governments that will achieve significant cumulative GHG reductions by 2030 and beyond. When estimates provided by all selected applicants are combined, the proposed projects would reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050, roughly the emissions from 5 million average homes’ energy use each year for over 25 years.

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