WASHINGTON – Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Department of Transportation as partners in coalitions that will receive a total of more than $670 million in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition.
“The impact of Maryland’s transition to clean energy – from electric vehicles to investments in renewable energy – extends beyond our state’s borders. This funding will help accelerate our effort to protect our environment, reduce our carbon emissions and expand these efforts along I-95 corridor,” said Senator Cardin. “In partnering with our neighboring states and with federal investment, we can create a more sustainable region.”
The Clean Corridor Coalition project will deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on the Interstate-95 freight corridor as a joint venture among the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Delaware Department of Transportation, and Maryland Departments of the Environment and Transportation, as well as provide technical assistance for workforce development and corridor planning across New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland.
The Atlantic Conservation Coalition is a regional approach focused on natural climate solutions to reduce GHG emissions. The project will fund efforts across North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia to leverage the carbon sequestration power of natural and working lands, including coastal wetlands, peatlands, forests, and urban forestry. The Atlantic Conservation Coalition is a partnership among the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, South Carolina Office of Resilience, Maryland Department of the Environment, and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
“President Biden believes in the power of community-driven solutions to fight climate change, protect public health, and grow our economy. Thanks to his leadership, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will deliver unprecedented resources to states, local governments, and Tribes to fund the solutions that work best in their communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Selected recipients have put forward ambitious plans to advance sustainable agriculture, deploy clean industrial technologies, cut emissions and energy costs in homes and commercial buildings, and provide cost- and energy-efficient heating and cooling to communities, creating economic and workforce development opportunities along the way.”
“Investments such as this are paramount to ensuring communities across the region who are impacted the most have access to reduced climate and air pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “We need our partners to help us in tackling climate challenges. The work of these organizations will allow them to take the steps to ensure better quality air for future generations.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is the single biggest investment we’ve made in fighting the climate crisis – and it is powering key projects like these that bring together neighboring states to tackle pollution, restore landscapes that store carbon, and put cleaner vehicles on our roads. As these initiatives show: in fighting the climate crisis we’re not just working to protect our environment – we’re also creating jobs and building a better, healthier future for our communities,” said Senator Van Hollen.
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