Hand holding drawing world with CO2 reducing, recycle, green factory icons with green trees in the background

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is administering a new grant program to combat damaging climate pollution by reducing pollution. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program will use funding to provide grants to states, local governments, tribes and territories to develop climate action plans and implement projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. 

EPA’s CPRG program has two phases: planning and implementation. During the planning phase, state and local agencies received grant funds to develop climate action plans that identify emissions reduction measures. The program requires developing two plans, a Priority Climate Action Plan and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. The content of these plans will overlap broadly and include an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, quantified emissions reduction measures and benefit analysis for affected populations. EPA awarded funding for the planning grants in August 2023.

During the implementation phase, EPA will award competitive grant funding to implement emissions reduction measures identified in the climate action plans. In September 2023, EPA opened the application period for CPRG implementation grants. The competition is open to entities that received planning grants, along with entities that did not receive a planning grant but are applying for funds to implement measures included in a climate action plan. EPA plans to award between $2 million and $500 million in funding tiers to individual eligible applicants. For more information, visit EPA's About CPRG Implementation Grants webpage.

Public Notices

There are no currently active Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program Public Notices/ Public Comments.

Missouri's Progress

State of Missouri

Planning Phase

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted its initial work plan to EPA for the planning grant on April 28, 2023. EPA finalized grant agreements and awarded funding for the planning grants in August 2023. For more information, contact the department's CPRG team at 573-751-4817, or by email at CPRGTeam@dnr.mo.gov.

The department issued subgrants to participating Missouri governments to inform stakeholders and the public about the CPRG planning process and solicit ideas. The following groups each received subgrants to conduct outreach in their communities. 

  • Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council
  • City of Columbia
  • Meramec Region
  • Southwest Missouri Council of Governments
  • City of Higginsville

The department is holding CPRG Stakeholder Group meetings to develop the climate action plans. Visit the groups' webpage to stay informed about upcoming meetings and other ways to participate in Missouri's CPRG planning process.

Implementation Phase

The department submitted its Implementation Grant application to EPA before the April 1, 2024, deadline. The total amount of funding the department applied for is over $428 million to implement emissions reduction measures. During the application process, the department partnered and collaborated with various stakeholders including other department divisions, other state agencies, municipalities, public institutions, regional planning organizations, industry, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout Missouri. The projects span across Missouri, with a primary focus in Low-income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDAC). The projects included solar, energy storage, energy efficiency, waste management, electric conversion, sustainable agriculture, afforestation/ prairie restoration and a residential pre-weatherization program.

EPA reviewed and scored the department’s application. In July 2024, EPA notified the department that the application was not selected for the Implementation Grant funding. The applicants that were selected for the funding can be found on EPA's CPRG Implementation Grants: General Competition Selections webpage. While the department was not chosen for the grant award, we appreciate all of our stakeholders’ assistance during the application process. 

Kansas City and St. Louis Areas

In addition to Missouri's CPRG grant funding, the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas each received separate CPRG grant funding to develop climate action plans specific to these two regions. The Mid-America Regional Council is the lead agency developing the Kansas City plan. In St. Louis, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments is the lead agency. Links are provided below for additional information about these regional climate action plans.

Priority Plan

On Feb. 27, 2024, the department finalized Missouri’s Plan for Environmental Improvement Grants, which serves as Missouri’s Priority Plan under this grant. The department released a draft of the plan on Jan. 9, 2024, and invited the public to review and offer written comments on the draft until Feb. 7, 2024. The department also held a public meeting on the draft plan on Jan. 25, 2024. The proposed plan included a broad range of project categories and a list of project ideas collected during plan development.

In response to comments on the draft plan, the department updated the plan to include a summary of the public participation period, new projects received and other minor updates and improvements. The final plan is available at the link below. This plan is a required element of the federal grant the department received. States and other recipients of planning grants must develop plans with potential emission reduction measures to be eligible to apply and compete for the $4.3 billion available nationwide in grant funding during the implementation phase of the federal grant program.

Comprehensive Plan

Two years after EPA awards planning grant funding to the department, a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) is due. This plan should cover greenhouse gas reduction measures across all emissions sources and sinks in all sectors of the state. The CCAP will establish near-term and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. This will build on the Priority Plan and should add additional required analyses to support robust implementation. 

More information will be provided once the department completes the CCAP.