BETHLEHEM, Pa. — While smoke from Canadian wildfires choked Lehigh Valley residents last week, a group of environmental officials and activists met to learn about state and federal funding available to fight climate change.
- The Lehigh Valley Environmental Advisory Council Network held a forum June 7 in Bethlehem
- State and federal officials discussed grant opportunities to fund projects fighting climate change
- Money is available, and municipalities can partner to tackle the grant application process
“I'm sure most of you are familiar with the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to acting on climate change and recognizing the imminent threat that it faces,” said Christine Knapp, who works in community innovation and technical assistance with the U.S. Department of Energy. “Ironically, I’m here clearing my throat because I’m asthmatic and we've got a wildfire in Canada affecting our air quality here right now.
"We can turn those threats into an opportunity to revitalize our economy, create good paying jobs and address historic injustices in our country through environmental justice issues."Christine Knapp, community innovation and technical assistance with the U.S. Department of Energy
“So, I think we know the threats that climate change poses to our country,” she continued. “But we can turn those threats into an opportunity to revitalize our economy, create good paying jobs and address historic injustices in our country through environmental justice issues.”
Held June 7 at the Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem and virtually via Zoom, the Lehigh Valley Environmental Advisory Council Network’s “Funding Municipal Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs,” focused on federal and state funding opportunities available to municipal and environmental organizations across the region.
The network has for the last three or four years held regional forums to collaborate, said Ian Kindle, chair of Easton’s Environmental Advisory Council.
“We've had a few gatherings both in person and virtual network to figure out more about the issues and successes of the Lehigh Valley EACs and other environmental organizations successes and challenges,” Kindle said.
There’s money available to help municipalities become more energy efficient and sustainable. In April, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission received $1 million in federal funding to create two separate climate action plans over the next four years.
Knapp said the DOE is working to support federal goals to build a 100% clean energy economy and reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050. Through theOffice of State and Community Energy Programs, there is $16 billion worth of formula grants, competitive grant awards, consumer rebate grants and technical assistance available.
She also spoke about new funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030. More than $10 billion in grants and rebates are available, including $1 billion for states and local governments to adopt the latest building codes and implement and plan for compliance.
“I know there's a lot going on — I get it, I get it — from having been in the local government space, there's just an abundance of riches right now and it feels overwhelming,” Knapp said. “My top line message is, pick up the phone and call us, or email us, or show up at a webinar and ask us questions if you're confused.”
Christopher Nafe, an energy program specialist with the state Department of Environmental Protection, gave a similar presentation about state funding opportunities, as well as the state’s Local Climate Action Program. It provides free technical and personnel assistance to local governments that want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.
So far, there have been 64 participants in the program, Nafe said, representing 440 municipalities across the state.
He also spoke about the Shared Energy Manager program, a climate action implementation program that aims to help local governments conduct energy assessments, renewable energy studies and other services to implement their climate action plans.
Easton participated in the 2021-2022, and officials estimate the city saved $379,596, Nafe said.
As the DOE continues to work to get grants to smaller, disadvantaged municipalities, Knapp said it’s important to note towns and cities can work together on grant applications.
For example, if a municipality received a $500,000 grant, officials can often sub-grant $100,000 of that to another organization for project support.
“You can actually bring those partners in in a compensated way and have them support you in delivering on the project and managing the grant and sending in the reports – all those things,” she said. “So, you don't have to be on an island by yourself. You can and should, I think, build these kinds of teams to help increase that capacity and have a more effective sort of infrastructure for the delivery of the work and to keep it sort of sustained over time.”
