Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC) received a $1 million planning grant through the U.S EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, a two-stage grant program that includes funding for planning grants and competitive implementation grants. Our staff will serve as the lead entity for an 8-county area, representing the Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and will prepare two Climate Action Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate pollution. Our local governments will be able to apply for $4.6 billion in competitive funding, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, to implement projects and actions included in the climate plan.
Central Pines Regional Council will lead coordination of the planning process with local governments and community-based organizations from across our region to ensure the plans can serve as a long-term framework for local and regional action. CPRC has selected Planning Communities to advise on outreach and engagement strategies and provide tools to local partners. The grant will also provide financial and administrative support to selected community-based organizations to engage local communities about the greenhouse gas reduction measures that would best serve our/their communities. The plan will also be developed in coordination with other climate action planning processes for the State of North Carolina and the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia region.
The planning process will also offer our region the opportunity to identify ways to collaborate and integrate local priorities into large-scale projects for efficient infrastructure, transportation systems, energy efficient buildings, logistics and distribution systems, energy and waste management systems, and agriculture and food production. This framework will provide each unique community with the tools to implement solutions that address the local needs they find most urgent and beneficial.
How can my local government be involved in this process?
Local governments in Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Orange, Person, and Wake counties are encouraged to select a representative to serve on a Regional Government Steering Committee that will guide the process and provide input and feedback to Central Pines and grant partners.
The CPRG (Climate Pollution Reduction Grant) Regional Government Steering Committee currently consists of representatives from the following communities:
- Chatham County
- City of Durham
- City of Raleigh
- Durham County
- Franklin County
- Granville County
- Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments
- Orange County
- Person County
- Town of Apex
- Town of Carrboro
- Town of Cary
- Town of Chapel Hill
- Town of Hillsborough
- Town of Holly Springs
- Town of Morrisville
- Town of Wake Forest
- Town of Zebulon
- Wake County
Program Contact:
Emily Barrett
ebarrett@centralpinesnc.gov
Media Contact:
Beth Davis
bdavis@centralpinesnc.gov