Dive brief:
- Communities can now use three Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs finance zero net energy projects in rebuilding schools, hospitals, fire stations and other infrastructure after a disaster.
- The new provisions announced by FEMA on January 30 apply to Public Assistance, the agency’s largest grant program; the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program and the Building Resilient Communities and Infrastructure Grants Program.
- Eligible projects they include solar microgrids, heat pumps, certified high-efficiency appliances, and passive heating or cooling, according to FEMA. The projects will reduce utility costs, increase energy reliability and reduce disaster-related costs for communities, the agency said.
Diving knowledge:
The Biden administration is stalling on the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
For FEMA, covering the cost of net zero energy projects is “the most effective measure“The agency can take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the climate crisis, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement.
FEMA already helps communities pay low carbon building materials in rebuilding, a change the agency made in March 2023.
Infrastructure and clean buildings will serve communities for brownblackouts and extreme temperatures, allowing them to remain comfortable and safe, FEMA said in its news release.
The agency allows it applicants rebuilding after any declared federal disaster after August 16, 2022 to take advantage of Project Zero net funding. “As of Jan. 30, more than 80 disasters have been declared in all 10 FEMA regions during that time,” the agency’s statement said.
State, local, tribal and territorial governments will still have to cover some of the costs of net zero energy projects. Through Public assistance programFEMA reimburses at least 75% of the cost of reconstruction and repairs, leaving communities to pay the rest.
