Federal Funds’ Impact on Evanston’s Climate Progress

TL/DR –

Evanston is set to make significant strides towards its climate and environmental justice goals, primarily due to funds from three Biden administration programs — the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), and the Inflation Reduction Act. Two key programs managed by the City of Evanston aim to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy use; the Healthy Buildings Initiative will receive $10.7 million from the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Accessible Solar Program received federal funding of $500,000 in April to provide low-income households with access to solar power. Further, Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan will benefit from initiatives aimed at reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing electric vehicle use, as well as programs aimed at enhancing urban tree canopies and green spaces.

Evanston leaps towards climate and environmental justice goals

Evanston is poised to make substantial strides towards climate and environmental justice goals due to federal funds from three Biden administration programs: the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act. These programs could advance Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan.

Building efficiency and renewable energy

The City of Evanston is managing two programs to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use in buildings. The Healthy Buildings Initiative will get $10.7 million in funding to reduce building emissions. The Accessible Solar Program aims to provide low-income households with solar power and received an earmark of $500,000 and an additional $1 million from the city’s ARPA pandemic relief.

Urban tree canopy, green spaces, community resilience

Other city programs backed by federal support aim to build climate resilience by expanding the urban tree canopy and green spaces. A grant of $802,500 in IRA funding will increase safe access to greenspace for environmentally vulnerable communities. An urban farm project, supported by the community group Evanston Grows, qualified for $350,000 in ARPA funds.

Reducing waste and embodied emissions

The Rebuilding Exchange aims to reduce construction waste and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. It received $1.2 million in ARPA funds to help purchase their facility and an additional $3.9 million in IRA funding from the EPA.

Clean transportation

Efforts are underway to cut GHG emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing travel by walking, bicycling, public transit, and electric vehicles. District 65 will receive 10 electric school buses starting next year, thanks to a grant from the U.S. EPA Clean School Bus Program. The city could also benefit from an IRA provision that enables tax-exempt entities to receive “direct pay” tax credits on clean-energy investments.

Impact is significant but incremental

While significant progress is being made, the implementation of these programs is incremental and often slow. Despite this, the IRA alone is responsible for “6,285 clean energy projects in the development pipeline nationwide” and a potential “3.9 million high-quality jobs, $2 trillion in investment and over 1,000 gigawatts of clean power,” according to the Climate Jobs National Resource Center.

Elections have impact

If Republicans prevail, they plan to cancel and potentially roll back climate programs. The US Economic News