Page 87 - Inflation-Reduction-Act-Guidebook

Protecting Communities from Harmful

Air Pollution

Levels of harmful air pollution have fallen steadily across the United States over the last 50
years—thanks to the Clean Air Act—while the U.S. economy has continued to grow. Some
communities, however, continue to face exposure to unhealthy levels of pollution, including
toxic pollution from legacy sources that have burdened communities for decades. As described in
the previous sections, the Inflation Reduction Act invests billions to quickly deploy advanced
energy technologies that will reduce pollution from the electricity, transportation, and industrial
sectors. The law also provides billions of dollars to Tribes, states, local governments, community
organizations, and others to cut greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants from
targeted local sources, particularly in areas with environmental justice concerns.

Cutting Air Pollution that Harms Public Health and

the Climate

The Inflation Reduction Act empowers communities to tackle their unique environmental
challenges and pollution burdens. In addition to the historic investments to deploy clean energy,
clean vehicles, clean buildings, and clean manufacturing, the law also adds a powerful
complement to these technology-focused programs: billions of dollars for grants to Tribes, states,
local governments, community organizations, and others to cut greenhouse gas emissions and
other harmful air pollutants that impose a disproportionate burden on underserved and vulnerable
communities. These programs have a particular benefit for communities that experience and
endure pollution from multiple stationary and mobile sources.

Funding Overview

The Inflation Reduction Act creates several new programs to help Tribes, states, municipalities,
community-based organizations, and the private sector to cut air pollution, including greenhouse
gases, with a particular focus on the communities that carry a disproportionate pollution burden.
All of these funds will advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative. Highlights include:

• $3 billion for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants. The Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil
Rights will provide grants and technical assistance to community-based organizations,
alone or in partnerships, to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution, including greenhouse
gases; monitor for pollution; improve community resilience to the impacts of climate
change, including extreme heat and wildfire; and build the capacity of these organizations
to engage with state and federal decision-making processes.

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