Overview
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. Phase II includes $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants. To be eligible to receive Phase II funding, projects must be included in a climate action plan developed with funding from a Phase I grant. Learn more on EPA's CPRG program page.
Governor Gianforte designated DEQ as the lead agency to receive Montana's planning grant and to facilitate a broad public planning process. The resulting Climate Action Plan 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.
Montanans experience a changing climate through record-setting summer heat, longer wildfire seasons, changing snowpack, more frequent drought in some areas and historic flooding in others. The CPRG program will help support Montana-made solutions to the changing climate.
Key Dates
- August 2025: Deadline to submit Montana's Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, or CCAP, to EPA.
- July 2024: EPA anticipates it will announce Implementation Grant selection decisions and tentatively plans to issue awards by October 2024
- April 1, 2024 - Deadline to submit CPRG implementation grant applications to EPA.
- March 1, 2024 - Deadline to submit MT's Priority Climate Action Plan to EPA.
- February 1-15, 2024: Public comment period on draft list of reduction measures.
- October 23, 2023 - January 5, 2024: Public comment period on pollution reduction measure suggestions
- August 8, 2023 - EPA awarded a $3 million CPRG program planning grant to the state of Montana, to be administered by the DEQ.
- March 29, 2023 - Governor Gianforte submitted Montana's Notice of Intent to Participate in the CPRG program planning phase.
CPRG Contacts
Climate Pollution Reduction Coordinator
Denise Roth Barber (406) 444-4636
Updates
Resources & Information
Under the CPRG planning grant, DEQ is beginning the process of developing a Montana Climate Action Plan. The planning grant has three deliverables:
- Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) due March 1, 2024
- Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) due summer 2025
- Status Report due summer 2027
DEQ will use this page to share materials and engagement opportunities related to this project.
Meetings & Materials
| Date | Time | Location | Materials | Notes/Recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 8, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. |
Zoom |
||
| Oct. 23, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. |
DEQ Headquarters and via Zoom |
Phase II of the CPRG Program includes competitive implementation grants, which can fund a variety of measures outlined in Montana's Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP).
EPA anticipates awarding 30-115 individual grants nationwide, that range between $2 million and $500 million. On December 12, 2023, EPA published an updated Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) which provides detailed information on the Implementation grant funding.
Municipalities, state agencies, and Tribes in Montana are eligible to apply for these grants. For more detailed information, including the definition of 'municipalities', see pp. 17-20 of the NOFO.
To be eligible to receive funding, projects must be included in Montana's PCAP.
Key Dates
- April 1, 2024: Implementation Grant Applications are due
- July 2024: EPA anticipates it will announce selection decisions and tentatively plans to issue awards by October 2024