Implementation Grants

On September 20, 2023, EPA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Request for Applications for approximately $4.3 billion of general competition grants to implement GHG reduction measures described in PCAPs developed by eligible states, including New Hampshire, and entities representing metropolitan statistical areas, such as the Metro Boston Metropolitan Planning Council, which is the regional planning agency serving cities and numerous towns of southern New Hampshire, such as Nashua, Salem, and Seabrook. EPA will award competitive grants to eligible applicants to implement GHG reduction measures (i.e., programs, policies, and projects) that are identified in PCAPs. EPA expects to award up to 115 grants nationwide that range between $2 million and $500 million. EPA will give precedence to applications that reduce GHG emissions by 2030 and benefit low-income and disadvantage communities.

Update: January 7, 2025 - New England Heat Pump Accelerator Program Request for Information (RFI) and Technical Conference

The coalition of the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island is requesting input on program design. Given the Accelerator’s scale and goals, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection (CT DEEP) would like to offer interested parties and stakeholders an opportunity to provide information for consideration in determining the program’s structure and role of the Accelerator’s regional implementer. A Technical Conference with an opportunity for public comment will be held on January 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST. More information on the conference and opportunity for feedback can be found in this Request for Information (RFI). Written responses to the RFI are due by January 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM EST.

EPA announces $450 million for Adoption of Heat Pumps in New England

The EPA announced 25 selected applications (out of almost 300) for over $4.3 billion in implementation grants under the CPRG program. The New England Heat Pump Accelerator program, a multi-state coalition including New Hampshire, was selected to “rapidly accelerate the adoption of cold-climate air-source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and ground source heat pumps in single-family and multifamily residential buildings across the region.” For more details, see the EPA announcement and more information from NHDES.

EPA CPRG Implementation Grant Goals 

• Implement ambitious measures (identified in PCAP) that will achieve significant reductions by 2030 and beyond. 
• Pursue measures that will achieve substantial community benefits by reducing air pollutants, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
• Complement other funding sources to maximize GHG reductions and community benefits.
• Pursue innovative policies and programs that are replicable and can be “scaled up” across multiple jurisdictions. 
• Learn more about EPA CPRG Implementation Grants. 

Timeline 

• April 1, 2024 – NHDES submitted a competitive grant application to EPA to implement GHG reduction measures that NHDES described in the PCAP. In addition, NHDES is included in two applications that were submitted by a coalition of states to fund specific measures identified in each state’s PCAP. 
• EPA announced the selected applicants on July 22, 2024, with awards expected by the end of 2024. 
• If selected, NHDES and its coalition partners will have 5 years to expend these funds and must provide EPA with semi-annual reports and a final report to summarize the progress of implementation. 

Three Applications (submitted by April 1, 2024)

The three applications combined included funding requests for 9 of the 10 priority measures that are further described in the State of New Hampshire Priority Climate Action Plan.