Metroplan Energy & Environment Innovation Funding: Final Call for Applications Announced

Metroplan announced on June 16th what it described as the “final call” for the organization’s Energy & Environment Innovation funding.

Eligible applicants for funding include the following who serve Central Arkansas:

• Cities
• Counties
• Nonprofits
• State agencies

The application process is described as “rolling and will be considered on a first come, first served basis.”

Funding is made possible through the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (“CPRG”) program. CPRG awarded $100 million to the Arkansas Tri-Region Coalition. Metroplan is the lead agency.

Funding is stated to be available for the following:

• Green Networks.
  • Land restoration (i.e., projects that improve air quality and carbon sequestration).
  • Land preservation (i.e., supports the permanent protection of ecologically valuable land through conservation easements, acquisitions, deed restriction, or other long-term preservation strategies).
  • Multi-use trail construction (match required – supports construction-ready bicycle and pedestrian trail projects that connect people and reduce vehicle pollution).
• Transportation Efficiency.
  • EV fleet transition rebates (supports the replacement of gasoline-powered government fleet vehicles with all-electric alternatives).
  • EV charger installation rebates (supports the installation of publicly accessible or fleet-serving Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations).
  • LED streetlight conversion stipends (Supports the replacement of conventional streetlights with high-efficiency LED fixtures).
• Building Efficiency.
  • Energy Savings Performance Contracting (supports eligible entities pursuing large-scale energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades through Energy Savings Performance Contracts). 

Metroplan has served as the area’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization since 1972. Its stated function is described as a metro-planning organization working with local governments, the state Department of Transportation, and local transit providers to determine transportation needs and funding priorities for federal transportation investments.

A copy of the Metroplan news release can be found here.