Feature image: The LEED Gold 401 North Michigan Avenue building in Chicago, Illinois. Photo credit: BradleyWarren PhGian Lorenzo Ferretti/CoStar.

In March, the states and nearly 70 of the largest metro areas that received planning grants from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program submitted their priority climate action plans (PCAPs), which was a prerequisite step to apply for implementation grants. A map from EPA show which states and metro areas received planning grants.

The PCAPs contain a GHG inventory and a list of measures that reduce pollution across all sectors, including the built environment.

Our engagement

In late fall 2023 and winter 2024, the USGBC advocacy and policy team submitted dozens of written and verbal comments to state and local governments to emphasize the importance of reducing emissions from the built environment—which in many jurisdictions accounts for the largest single-sector source of GHG emissions.

A recent analysis from the Climate XChange found that all 47 states that submitted a PCAP included at least one GHG reduction measure in the buildings sector. The buildings sector had the second most measures included (148 total), narrowly trailing transportation (186 total). We were pleased to see state and local governments across the country recognize the critical importance of decarbonizing their building stock.

Next steps

Entities that created a PCAP are now eligible to apply for approximately $4.5 billion in competitive grants to implement GHG measures identified in their PCAPs. In the program guidance, EPA emphasizes that applications will be evaluated on

Reducing significant GHG emissions by 2030 and beyond.
Implementing programs and measures that will significantly reduce criteria and hazardous air pollutants in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Leveraging CPRG funding with other federal funding opportunities to maximize emissions reduction. This includes the expanded suite of energy efficiency tax credits.
Developing replicable policies and programs that can be “scaled up” across multiple jurisdictions.

EPA plans to announce the grant awards in October for states and metro areas, and by the end of year for tribes and territories. Additionally, entities that developed PCAPs are required to submit a comprehensive climate action plan in 2025. Our team plans to again provide input and suggestions as jurisdictions submit their comprehensive plans.

If you are interested in getting involved in our efforts to decarbonize the built environment and push for green building policies, you can join our Advocacy Working Group.

Learn more about USGBC's Advocacy Working Group

States and largest metro areas submit priority climate action plans to EPA