Emissions Reduction Planning

Montana's Big Sky Emissions Reduction Roadmap (Roadmap) is a comprehensive air pollution reduction plan, currently being developed by Montana DEQ with support from various partners. The Roadmap will identify and support investment in voluntary actions that reduce emissions, create high-quality jobs, spur economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for all Montanans, all while embracing innovation and rejecting government mandates. This effort is funded through the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, which focuses on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other harmful air pollutants.

This is a highly collaborative effort, and we need to hear from you regarding priorities for your community. Please take this short 10-minute survey and help Montana DEQ identify voluntary actions that reduce emissions and other harmful air pollution. This public survey is open to all Montana residents until January 31, 2025 at 5:00 pm MT.

Take the Public Survey!

The Roadmap will build upon Montana’s Climate Pollution Reduction Priorities, completed in spring 2024, which identified high priority, implementation ready, near-term actions to reduce emissions in Montana through innovation, not regulation. Priority measures include expanding forest management, upgrading infrastructure in Montana's K-12 public schools, and improving electric grid technology.

What’s in the Roadmap?

Plan development will focus on incentive-based actions to reduce pollution and make a difference in our communities, our workforce and economy, and the state as a whole. The Roadmap will include the following:

• Comprehensive inventory of GHG emissions using Montana-specific data rather than national estimates
  • Including analysis of significant sources of emissions by economic sector (buildings, transportation, agriculture, working lands, electric power, industry, waste and materials management)
• Analysis of projected future emission levels under a business-as-usual scenario and in a scenario in which additional voluntary actions are implemented
• Identification of current emission reduction efforts and future voluntary actions to improve air quality
• Identification of funding opportunities to support the implementation of emission reduction actions
• Analysis of anticipated workforce shortages, potential solutions, and partners that can help address those challenges

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program provides funding to states through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce emissions.

The CPRG program includes two phases of funding:

• Phase I provided $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, of which states were eligible for $3 million each. This is the funding DEQ is using to prepare Montana's Big Sky Emissions Reduction Roadmap.
• Phase II provided $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants. To be eligible to receive Phase II funding, projects must have been included in a climate action plan developed with funding from a Phase I grant. In July 2024, EPA announced that Montana was awarded a $49.7 million implementation grant. More details can be found in the Implementation Funding section below.

Governor Gianforte designated DEQ as the lead agency to receive Montana's planning grant and to facilitate a broad public planning process. The resulting Big Sky Emissions Reduction Roadmap will include strategies to reduce emissions and support thriving Montana communities through innovation, not regulation. To develop the plan, DEQ will engage the expertise of other state agencies, local governments, stakeholders, universities, and the public.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program included a national competition for implementation grants to fund selected actions from states’ priority plans. In April of 2024, the state of Montana submitted two applications for funding to carry out several measures identified in the Montana Climate Pollution Reduction Priorities.

On July 22, 2024, Montana's Forest, Community and Working Landscapes Climate Resiliency Project, submitted by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, was one of 25 applications selected nationwide to receive funding for a diverse range of projects. The successful applications included projects in 30 states at the state, local, and tribal levels. Learn more about the successful applications on EPA's website.

Montana's $49.7 million grant will be used to improve the resilience of Montana’s forests, agricultural lands and waterways through innovative, incentive-based projects including: 1) forest management and wildfire mitigation, 2) expansion of healthy urban and community forests, 3) mitigation of coal seam fires, 4) reductions in nonpoint source pollution, 5) fertilizer use innovation for improved soil health, 6) ranchland stewardship, and 7) innovation in the cattle and beef industry.

Montana’s Energy Infrastructure and Efficiency Upgrade Project, submitted by DEQ for a $48.9 million implementation grant, was not selected for funding. The application included four projects: 1) enhancing energy efficiency in Montana’s schools, 2) converting fleet vehicles to cleaner alternatives, 3) improving the state’s grid technology, and 4) funding energy efficiency audits for the State’s Commercial Property-Assessed Capital Enhancements program.

• Implementation Grant Application Summary (.pdf)