Inflation Reduction Act

As noted in prior communications, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) creates important opportunities for health care stakeholders to deepen their investments in resilience and sustainability. The Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) is preparing sessions and tools to describe their applicability to the health care sector in greater detail (watch this space!) but, in the meantime, you can explore the following:

Relevant Opportunities:

• Due Dates TBA: EPA Announces Initial Program Design of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. EPA published two Federal Assistance Listings outlining key parameters of the grant competitions that will ultimately award nearly $27 billion to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments across the country. Federal Assistance Listings are the first public notice requirement to implement a federal grant program. EPA also announced a national Community Roundtable series to continue a robust and inclusive engagement effort, focused on introducing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to communities across the country and learning about community-level solutions that the Fund can support.

• Due Dates TBA: Program to Allocate Environmental Justice Solar and Wind Capacity Limitation Under Section 48(e) . The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program promotes clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Tribal Land, and within affordable housing. Beginning in 2023, a 10 percentage point increase is available to eligible solar and wind facilities that are installed in low-income communities or on Tribal land. A 20 percentage point credit increase will be available to clean energy projects that serve a qualified low-income residential building or provide at least 50% of the financial benefits of electricity generated to low-income households.  

• Due 04/10/2023: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Grants . The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. Live webinars will be announced and videos of the previous session are shared on the program’s website.

• Due 07/31/2023: Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Allocation Program Under Section 48C(e) . Treasury and IRS, in partnership with DOE, announced the intent to release approximately $4 billion in a first round of tax credits for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities and for projects that expand U.S. supply chains for clean energy technologies and critical materials for clean energy technology production. Approximately $1.6 billion of this allocation will be set aside for projects in coal communities. The program will provide an investment tax credit of up to 30% of qualified investments for certified projects that meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements. 

We also note that the White House has published a guide to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding opportunities you can apply for today. The list includes information on the program, the deadline for applying, and a link to the application, where applicable.

Relevant Requests for Information (RFI) or Comment:

• Closes 02/28/2023: Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office Launches Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants Program with $760M Inflation Reduction Act Investment; RFI . DOE is requesting information from stakeholders regarding issues related to the provision of grants to facilitate the siting of interstate and offshore electricity transmission lines, including possible tools and resources that may reduce the time for siting authorities to reach decisions, and opportunities to increase community engagement and reduce conflicts that can stall siting processes.

• Closes 03/03/2023: Department of Energy Notice of RFI Regarding Inflation Reduction Act Home Efficiency and Electrification Rebate Programs . Responses to this RFI will be used for planning purposes to develop one or multiple opportunities to assist states, territories, Indian Tribes, as well as potentially other entities, in designing, managing, and improving the Home Energy Rebate programs. The implementation of the Home Energy Rebates programs aims to help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment and improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution.

• Closes 03/10/2023: White House Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change Public Comment Opportunity . This guidance is not limited to the IRA but as Federal agencies review and build new infrastructure and clean energy projects, including those funded through the IRA, the updated guidance will improve sustainability while keeping environmental reviews focused and efficient.

• Closes 03/13/2023: Office of Management and Budget RFI on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards . If you believe the current language should be revised, suggest an alternative (which may include not providing guidance at all) and include an explanation, analysis, or both, of how the alternative might meet the same objective or be more effective. Comments on the economic effects including quantitative and qualitative data are especially helpful.

• Closes 03/17/2023: EPA RFI on Inflation Reduction Act Environmental and Climate Justice Program. The RFI requests public input on new and innovative strategies and approaches for competition design, community engagement, equitable distribution of financial resources, grantee eligibility for funding, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance.

• Closes 05/01/2023: EPA RFI to Support New IRA Programs to Lower Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Construction Materials and Products. There will also be a series of public engagement webinars in March and April.