LTC 459-2024 Federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program (Resolution 2024-33211)MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC#
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter,City Manager&;_,¥
October 15,2024
Federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program (Resolution 2024-33211)
This Letter to Commission (LTC)is in response to Resolution 2024-33211 directing Administration
to conduct the necessary research regarding the possibility of participation by the City in the
federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG)program.
The CPRG application period closed in Spring 2024 and additional funding period is not expected
at this time.On April 1,2024,the Southeast Florida Region,represented by Broward County as
Lead Entity,submitted a CPRG Implementation Grant application for $268,648,142 in
implementation funding.Of this funding,$72,871,961 was expected for Miami-Dade County
(MDC).Separately,MDC submitted a second application for $8,197,180 for a Food Waste Action
Program to address food insecurity in the County.Unfortunately,neither applications were
selected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)for funding.The implementation grants
for $4.3 billion in funding were extremely competitive and only 25 recipients were selected for this
national grant opportunity.No recipients were selected in Florida.
However,the region is slated to receive funding through other opportunities.City staff will
coordinate with the relevant agencies to ensure that the City is included in the implementation of
these funds and that residents are able to access the benefits.One successful application is for
the Florida Solar for All (FSFA)program,which will provide income-based subsidies and/or low-
interest loans for rooftop solar for low-income households and integrate workforce development.
Additionally,after initially rejecting the funding,the State of Florida is eligible to receive
approximately $346 million to assist Floridians in reducing the cost of energy by improving the
energy efficiency of their homes through qualified energy efficiency upgrades,retrofits,and high-
efficiency appliances.
CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANTS OVERVIEW
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG)program is funded through the Inflation
Reduction Act (IRA}to provide grants to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.The grants program,administered by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),is two-staged:$250 million for noncompetitive planning
grants and $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants.The program prioritizes
communities identified as low income and disadvantaged by the EPA.
459-2024
The Southeast Florida Region (Miami-Dade,Broward,Palm Beach,and Monroe counties)already
received an approximately $1 million planning grant,with Miami-Dade County (MDC)as Lead
Entity.On March 1,2024,MDC submitted the first deliverable under the planning grant,a Priority
Climate Action Plan (PCAP).GHG reduction measures identified in the PCAP were eligible to
compete for the $4.6 billion in implementation funding.MDC is currently working on the
Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP),due in August 2025.
As previously mentioned,MDC submitted two applications for implementation funding and was
unfortunately not successful.There were no implementation grants awarded in Florida.
SOLAR FOR ALL
The Florida Solar for All (FSFA)program will finance and deploy roof-top solar for low-income
residents in Florida.The program is funded through a $156 million grant from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,under the Inflation Reduction Act.Starting in early 2025,low-
income households in single family homes in disadvantaged communities can apply for income-
based subsidies and/or low-interest loans for rooftop solar.The FSFA program design guarantees
that participants receive a 20%reduction in their energy bill.The FSFA program also includes
workforce development to create good jobs and boost participation in the Florida Solar Energy
Apprenticeship Program.
Statewide webinars and regional committees,including a committee dedicated to South Florida,
will solicit program design suggestions from local and regional governments,affordable housing
providers,and community organizations.The FSFA program is implemented by a coalition
consisting of the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF),Solar United Neighbors (SUN),and The
Nature Conservancy in Florida (TNC).The coalition looks forward to working with the City of Miami
Beach,and South Florida local and regional governments,affordable housing providers and
community organizations to make the FSFA program a success.
FLORIDA ENERGY REBATES
Florida's Home programs consist of two separate and distinct energy efficiency programs;
however,the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)Office of
Energy will administer them jointly.Approximately $346 million in funding is provided through the
federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).FDACS is currently undergoing program design and
anticipates making all rebates available to residents in early 2025.Additional information is
available at:www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Florida-Energy-Rebates .
Florida's Whole Home Rebates (HOMES):The Whole Home Rebates Program provides single-
family and multifamily households with discounts for efficiency upgrades that are predicted to
save at least 20%of the home's energy use.This program will provide rebates for energy
efficiency retrofits ranging from $2,000-$4,000 for individual households and $2,000-$4,000 per
dwelling in multifamily buildings.Rebate amounts may depend on the amount of energy savings
achieved by the retrofits,and maximum rebate amounts may double for retrofits of low-and
moderate-income homes.
Florida's Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR):The HEAR Program is exclusively
for low-and moderate-income households (less than 150%Area Median Income)to purchase
high-efficiency equipment.Like the Whole Homes Program,both single-family and multifamily
dwellings qualify.This program will include a $14,000 rebate cap per household with additional
caps on individual equipment types.
The Administration remains committed to working closely with our federal,State,and regional
partners applying for grant opportunities and sharing information with the community.Please
contact me or Amy Knowles,Chief Resilience Officer,at amyknowles@miamibeachfl.gov or
Juanita Ballesteros,Sustainability and Resilience Manager,at
iuanitaballesteros mmiamibeachfl.ov for any additional information regarding this item.%
Attachment:Resolution 2024-33211
RESOLUTION NO.2024-33211
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO
CONDUCT THE NECESSARY RESEARCH AND ISSUE A LETTER TO
COMMISSION REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTICIPATION BY
THE CITY IN THE FEDERAL CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTIONGRANTSPROGRAM.
WHEREAS,climate change poses a significant threat to the environment,public health,
and the economic well-being of communities,including the City of Miami Beach;and
WHEREAS,the federal government has established the Climate Pollution Reduction
Grants program (the "Program")to provide funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and other pollutants,enhance climate resilience,and promote sustainable
development;and
WHEREAS,the State of Florida was one of five states that did not submit a climate action
plan,thereby excluding the State from $3 million in initial federal grant funding and disqualifies
the state from grants during the program's second phase for as much as $500 million;and
WHEREAS,certain other municipalities in the State have joined together to make a direct
application to the federal government for grant funding under the Program;and
WHEREAS,the City of Miami Beach is committed to advancing environmental
sustainability and resilience through innovative policies,programs,and projects;and
WHEREAS,if it is not too late to participate (whether independently or by joining other
municipalities that have already submitted an application),the Program may present an
opportunity for the City to secure funding for initiatives that align with its climate action goals and
contribute to the reduction of climate pollution;and
WHEREAS,it is in the best interest of the City to explore all available opportunities to
secure funding for climate-related projects.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,that the Mayor and City
Commission direct the Administration to conduct the necessary research and issue a Letter to
Commission regarding the possibility of participation by the city in the federal Climate Pollution
Reduction Grants program.
AssED ana ADoPTD the_%t_aGil"7
ATTEST:
~JUL 3 0 2024
Rafael ~.City Clerk
Steven Meiner,Mayor
APPROVED AS TO
FORM &LANGUAGE
&FOR EXECUTION
Is this a "Residents Right to Know"item,
pursuant to City Code Section2.47?
No
Is this item related to a G.O.Bond
Project?
No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which,as defined in Code Sec.2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying?No
If so,specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s):
Department
City Attorney
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Tanya K.Bhatt
Co-sponsor(s)
Condensed Title
Direct Admin.Issue LTC-City Participation in Fed.Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
Program.(Bhatt)CA '
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