The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides states, local governments, and tribal nations flexible resources to plan for and pursue ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reductions to achieve three broad objectives:

1. Tackle damaging climate pollution while supporting the creation of good jobs and lowering energy costs for families;
2. Accelerate work to address environmental injustices and empower community-driven solutions in overburdened neighborhoods; and,
3. Deliver cleaner air by reducing harmful pollution in places where people live, work, play, and go to school.

Through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, the State of Michigan has received a $3 million planning grant that the Office of Climate and Energy will use to refine and implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan and prepare Michigan communities to compete in nationwide competitive federal funding competitions. In addition to state level CPRG funding, the U. S. EPA has directly awarded $1 million to each of the 67 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the country – including Grand Rapids-Kentwood and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn. The state of Michigan is closely collaborating with Grand Valley Metro Council, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, and federally recognized tribes to streamline development and bring home as many federal dollars as possible.

The CPRG is broken into two phases – the timeline for Phase I: Planning Grants is provided below.

For States, Municipalities, and Air Pollution Control Agencies:

For Tribes and Territories:

The timeline for Phase II: Competitive Implementation Grants is provided below.

Please see the corresponding sections for more detail on some of the individual deliverables.

Priority Climate Action Plan

The Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) is a narrative report due on March 1, 2024, that includes a focused list of near-term, high-priority, implementation-ready measures to reduce GHG pollution and an analysis of GHG emissions reductions that would be achieved through implementation. These initial plans can focus on a specific sector or selected sectors and do not need to comprehensively address all sources of GHG emissions and sinks in the jurisdiction. Michigan’s PCAP will leverage the stakeholder engagement and prioritization process that went into the development of the MHCP and work across various coordinating entities and stakeholder groups to identify and source real, implementable climate pollution reduction actions. The PCAP is required to include: 

• A simplified GHG inventory;
• Quantified GHG reduction measures;
• A low-income and disadvantaged communities benefits analysis; and,
• A review of authority to implement.

The State of Michigan is aiming to include the following elements in addition to what is required by the EPA:

• A summary of Michigan’s existing GHG reduction targets and any necessary refinement, building from Michigan’s commitment to reach 50-52% emissions reductions by 2030 and carbon neutrality economywide by 2050.
• A selective evaluation of the intersection of PCAP and MHCP priorities with other federal funding availability, leveraging Michigan’s existing work through the Michigan Infrastructure Office.
• A workforce analysis if it is necessary to the successful prioritization of actions in the PCAP.

As part of he PCAP development process, the State of Michigan is planning virtual and in-person listening sessions to receive input from communities across Michigan, especially low-income areas that are typically hit 'first and worst' by climate impacts.

Comprehensive Climate Action Plan

The Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) is due 2 years from the date of award of the planning grant (mid-2025). The CCAP should touch on all significant GHG sources/sinks and sectors present in a state or metropolitan area, establish near-term and long-term GHG emission reduction goals, and provide strategies and identify measures to achieve those goals. Each CCAP must include:

• A comprehensive GHG inventory;
• GHG emissions projections;
• GHG reduction targets;
• Quantified GHG reduction measures;
• A benefits analysis for the full geographic scope and population covered by the plan;
• A low-income and disadvantaged communities benefits analysis;
• A review of authority to implement;
• A plan to leverage other federal funding; and,
• A workforce planning analysis.

All planning grant recipients will be expected to conduct a comprehensive climate action plan development process. Jurisdictions with existing climate plans may use planning grant funds to update or expand their existing plans to reflect, for example, recent changes in technologies and market forces, potential leveraging of other funding opportunities (e.g., under the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or other sources), new program areas and opportunities for regional collaboration, or inclusion of analyses to estimate benefits including those flowing to low income and disadvantaged communities. Grantees with previously developed climate action plans will be able to integrate their previous planning experience into the CCAP.

State Level

The State of Michigan designated the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, specifically the Office of Climate and Energy, with oversight and responsibility for managing grant funds and coordinating activities and deliverables pertaining to the CPRG Planning Grant program. 

Regional Level

In addition to state level CPRG funding, the EPA has directly awarded $1 million to each of the 67 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the country. In Michigan, this applies to the Grand Rapids-Kentwood and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn areas. 

Tribal Level

In addition to state and MSA-level CPRD funding, the EPA has directly awarded a variety of funding to five federally recognized tribes and tribal consortium across Michigan.

The State of Michigan is already coordinating efforts with other lead entities, SEMCOG, GVMC, and the aforementioned federally recognized tribal nations and consortium, as well as with other regional partners who are not directly receiving funding from the EPA.

Other Partners

The State of Michigan is also collaborating with the following entities throughout the CPRG process, in addition to others as they’re identified.

Local Governments: The State of Michigan is aligning with other local governments through EGLE’s Catalyst Communities initiative and Michigan Green Communities, a statewide network of local government staff and officials that collaborate with one another through peer learning and information sharing to promote innovative sustainability solutions at the local, regional, and state level.

The Council on Climate Solutions: The Council on Climate Solutions was created by Executive Order 2020-182, and functions as an advisory body that provides advice on the development and implementation of MI Healthy Climate Plan. Each meeting is open to the public, recorded, and posted with meeting materials on the Council’s webpage. Quarterly updates are provided to the Council on the status of MHCP implementation, and guest speakers are often invited to focus on specific topic areas. 

The Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice: The Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice (MAC-EJ) is the state’s first Environmental Justice advisory council. Members represent an intentional combination of frontline activists, advocacy organizations, academia, tribal representation, local governments, business and industry, public health, and labor. The MAC-EJ is an advisory body for Environmental Justice actions spearheaded by the Interagency Environmental Justice Response Team and the Office of Environmental Justice Public Advocate. 

The Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification: The Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification (CFME) is an advisory body tasked with developing and recommending policies and actions that will help keep Michigan a global mobility leader as we maneuver to the mobility sector’s next era. Its areas of focus include automated and connected vehicle technologies, intelligent transportation systems, mobility innovation, electric and other low- and no-emission vehicles and related infrastructure; as well as issues related to economic development, talent attraction, and workforce training. 

State of Michigan Cross-Department CPRG Sprint Team: Per the EPA’s current guidance on the CPRG, the OCE is working on convening regular meetings and establishing consistent coordination between a variety of Departments across the State of Michigan to leverage as much knowledge and expertise as possible. Members of the CPRG Sprint Team will include leadership voices from Governor Whitmer’s office, including the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO), and various state departments, including EGLE; DNR; the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD); LEO; the Treasury; MDOT; the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS); and the MPSC.

Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Climate Liaisons: The EGLE Climate Liaisons is a program focused on more effectively integrating climate-related work, policies, and programs into day-to-day operations. This group is comprised of at least one representative from each Division and Office within EGLE.

Frontline communities are considered and included in all aspects of the SOM’s CPRG application. EGLE’s Office of Climate and Energy and Office of Environmental Justice Public Advocate are partnering closely to identify how capacity and resources associated with the CPRG will benefit frontline communities in both process and outcomes.

Engagement

Michigan believes that community-based organizations (CBOs) and place-based networks are a critical part of equitable engagement and essential for reaching frontline and disadvantaged communities in the face of the climate crisis. The State of Michigan is aiming to partner with trusted community venues to host a variety of stakeholder engagement events, including public listening sessions. 

We recommend signing up for the Michigan Climate Action News and Updates listserv to stay updated on engagement opportunities as they becomes available.

Potential Outcomes

The term “outcome” in the CPRG means the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related or programmatic in nature, but should also be quantitative.

Expected outcomes from the projects to be funded should include, but are not limited to: 

• Tons of pollution (GHGs and co-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures identified in the PCAP and the CCAP;
• Tons of pollution (GHGs and co-pollutants) reduced annually; and,
• Tons of pollution (GHGs and co-pollutants) reduced with respect to low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Other potential outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

• Improved staff capacity to implement policies to address climate change;
• Enhanced community engagement;
• Improved ambient air quality;
• Health benefits achieved;
• Increased public awareness of project and results; and/or,
• Creation of high-quality jobs with an emphasis on workers from underserved populations.

The State of Michigan has proposed a budget that includes some funding set aside for municipal, tribal, and community-based subawards. As of now, we are still in the planning process for how and when this funding will be deployed.

Local governments are encouraged to apply for funding, either individually or as part of a coalition of eligible entities, under the competitive implementation grant program of the CPRG. For more information on eligible applicants, timelines, and other information, please see the “Competitive Implementation Grants” section of this webpage.

We recommend signing up for the Michigan Climate Action News & Updates listserv to stay updated on funding opportunities as they become available.

There are several channels to learn more about the CPRG and how to get involved:

• Sign up for the Michigan Climate Action News and Updates listserv
• Sign up for the EPA’s CPRG listserv
• Visit the State of Michigan Office of Climate and Energy webpage
• Visit the EPA webpage on the CPRG
• Attend State of Michigan webinar(s) or View Webinars when recording available
• Visit the Southeast Michigan Council of Government’s (SEMCOG) webpage on the CPRG
• Visit the Grand Valley Metro Council’s (GVMC) webpage on the CPRG

In June 2023, the State of Michigan received a $3 million planning grant from the EPA to develop a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) as part of the first phase of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. Two Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Grand Rapids-Kentwood and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, also received planning grants in the amount of $1 million each to develop regional PCAPs. The organizations leading the development of these regional PCAPs are Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC) and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), respectively. GVMC’s PCAP will cover the counties of Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa, while SEMCOG’s PCAP will cover the counties of Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, Wayne, Monroe, and Washtenaw. The State of Michigan’s PCAP will cover the entire state.

The PCAP and the CCAP are directly tied to each other with key differences outlined below: 

It’s anticipated that the State of Michigan’s PCAP will focus on the electricity, buildings, transportation, and industry sectors as those have previously been identified as having the most potential for emissions reductions, especially in the short term. However, this has not been finalized and will also be directly informed by feedback and input from a variety of stakeholder and community engagement opportunities.

The State of Michigan will be holding a series of regional and sector-specific engagement sessions, both in-person and virtually to receive feedback and input on what should be included in the PCAP. We also plan to partner with other planning grant recipients, as well as trusted community groups and organizations wherever possible to ensure representation and diversity of feedback. To be informed of upcoming stakeholder engagement opportunities, as well as be notified of upcoming informational webinars, please sign up for the Michigan Climate Action News & Updates email listserv.

The EPA defines eligible entities as lead organizations that were direct recipients of CPRG planning grants, as well as other state, municipal, tribal, and territorial entities that seek to implement GHG reduction measures included in an applicable PCAP.

Eligible entities may apply as lead applicants on no more than two applications – one individual, and one as lead as part of a coalition. However, there is no limit to the number of applications on which eligible entities may appear as non-lead. For this grant program, a coalition is defined as a group of two or more eligible entities that share a strong and substantial commitment to the proposed measures (e.g., financially, materially, or operationally) such that withdrawal by any single member from the coalition would fundamentally alter the design or expected outputs and outcomes of the proposed measures.

Only applications that seek to implement GHG reduction measures that are included in an applicable PCAP are eligible for funding under this funding competition.

The EPA anticipates that applications may seek funding for the following types of measures: 

• A new, stand-alone GHG reduction measure that will be implemented solely through CPRG funding;
• An expansion of a GHG reduction measure that is already being implemented, where the expansion of the measure will be funded through CPRG funding; and,
• A new GHG reduction measure for which the applicant has already secured partial funding and needs additional funding from the CPRG program to fully implement the measure.

Importantly, quantified reductions should not include those that would already occur because of existing regulatory requirements or other funding sources.

The EPA strongly encourages coalition building, though individual eligible entities are not precluded from submitting individual applications. Notably, the EPA anticipates awarding no more than two grants to applicants at the same level of government within a single jurisdiction (e.g., a single state, municipality, tribal area, or territory). In addition, the EPA will make selections to ensure diverse geographic coverage of CPRG implementation funding across the different funding tiers.

The State of Michigan is currently working to create avenues for folks to access support for grant writing and other technical assistance.

Eligible entities that are located within counties that are covered by SEMCOG’s or GVMC’s PCAP will be eligible to apply for competitive funding under either the State of Michigan PCAP, or the PCAP of the applicable regional entity.

Applications will be evaluated against others in the same tier, and will be evaluated using the following scoring criteria:

Since the EPA strongly encourages coalition building when applying for these competitive funds, it is recommended that non-eligible entities serve to facilitate connections between other eligible entities and provide corresponding support to these entities where necessary. Additionally, non-eligible entities are encouraged to become engaged in the stakeholder engagement processes mentioned above to aid in the identification and scoping of PCAPs being developed by the State of Michigan, SEMCOG, and GVMC. Please sign up for the Michigan Climate Action News and Updates listserv to be notified of upcoming engagement opportunities.