EPA Provides $50 Million Grant for New Orleans to Tackle Pollution, and Effects of Climate Change.

Eric Connerly Data News Weekly Contributor

New Orleans is set to receive almost $50 million in federal funding to counteract pollution and climate change. The money comes as part of an Environmental Protection Agency Program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Program.

New Orleans is one of three cities across the nation chosen as a grant recipient. With the funds, New Orleans aims to reduce the harm from Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the city over the next five years. Key aims for the funding include improving air quality, alleviating urban heat islands and reducing the city’s carbon footprint, which helps reduce the impacts of climate change.

“As New Orleans works to reduce our emissions contributing to climate change, this substantial funding will fuel seven Pivotal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures that align with a cross-section of goals from the City’s Climate Action Plan and the Southeastern Louisiana Priority Climate Action Plan” Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a statement.

In addition, the initiatives include increasing energy efficiency in city buildings, solar panel installations, improved access to transportation options such as walking and biking paths as well as increasing native plant populations in the city.

New Orleans was one of 25 awardees of Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, which distributed over $4.3 billion to state, local and tribal governments in over 30 states.

The grant specifically targets “improving the health and well-being of local low-income and disadvantaged communities,” according to the EPA website.

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