Climate Pollution Reduction Planning

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CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING FOR THE MIAMI VALLEY

MVRPC is leading a Regional coalition of jurisdictions and partner agencies to develop a first-of-its-kind Regional Climate Pollution Reduction plan for the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Funding for this work is from a US EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant awarded in the summer of 2023. The CPRG program provides $1 million to support a four-year project to inventory greenhouse gas emissions, set regional goals for emissions reductions, evaluate and select projects and programs to meet regional goals, and measure community benefits from reduced pollution. It is also an opportunity to plan for workforce development needs related to the clean energy economy in the Miami Valley.

The US EPA grant specifically covers the counties in the Dayton Metro Area, as defined by the US Census Bureau – Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties. MVRPC member counties Darke, Preble, and Shelby are covered under a statewide grant for Climate Pollution Reduction being managed by the Ohio EPA.

LATEST NEWS

February 23, 2024: The Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) for the Miami Valley has been submitted to US EPA. After an active 30-day public comment period, the MVRPC Technical Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended the Final PCAP for submission.

MVRPC received 16 comments and suggestions on the draft PCAP during the comment period, plus additional comments and questions during the virtual public meeting on February 1.  Several comments encouraged the plan to emphasize strategies that reduce other air pollutants along with greenhouse gases (GHG) as well. Also of interest, three lines of communications resulting in some changes to the list of GHG reduction measures listed in the draft.

  1. A more complete review of the Sugarcreek Water Resource Recovery Facility Sludge Drying project determined that the project, as proposed, would result in increased GHG emissions. Accordingly, the project was withdrawn from the PCAP with the concurrence of the project sponsor (Greene County).
     
  2. A new program for diversion of organic waste from the solid waste stream was added at the request of Montgomery County. This project will combine efforts to reduce food waste with increased capacity for anaerobic digestion.
     
  3. A suggestion to adopt low-carbon approaches to roadway construction and maintenance was held over for further study, and potential inclusion in the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

The list of GHG reduction measures listed in the Final PCAP is shown below.

Download the FINAL Priority Climate Action Plan

Download the Spreadsheet of Emissions Reductions Costs for Dayton & Kettering

The next stages of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant project are potential applications for CPRG Implementation Grants, and development of the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the Miami Valley (due May 2025).

 

JANUARY 11, 2024: The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission is releasing the DRAFT Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) for public review and comment. The PCAP is the first of three required deliverables under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) received by MVRPC in the summer of 2023. The PCAP, due to US EPA by March 1, 2024, is intended to identify near-term, implementation-ready projects that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, etc.) from within the Dayton-Kettering metro area. Measures identified in the PCAP are eligible to apply for CPRG Implementation funding in April of 2024.

The draft PCAP includes all of the US EPA-required components:

  • GHG Inventory for the Miami Valley (see section 4)

  • Quantified GHG reduction measures (see section 5)

  • A Low Income/Disadvantaged Community benefits analysis (see section 6)

  • A review of Authority to Implement (included in the measures, section 5)

The image below details the scoring of proposed PCAP GHG reduction measures analyzed for the draft PCAP.

MVRPC hosted a virtual public meeting regarding the draft PCAP on Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Click here to view the February draft PCAP meeting.

Download the PDF of a complete Public Participation Summary for the draft Priority Climate Action Plan.

Here are additional resources to assist your review of the draft PCAP:

WYSO interviewed the Manager of Environment Planning, Matt Lindsay, about this project. The interview provides a summary of the project. Learn more at https://www.wyso.org/environment-news/2024-01-12/to-reduce-eleven-million-tons-of-ghg-emissions-officials-reveal-miami-valley-climate-action-plan. 

DECEMBER: The first regional greenhouse gas inventory (GHG Inventory) for the Dayton-Kettering Metro Area is complete and available for review. The GHG Inventory compiles data on emissions from the Residential, Commercial and Industrial sectors, and also further breaks down sector data by components such as stationary combustion, transportation, and electricity generation. A “Business as Usual” case is presented, projecting future GHG emissions based on current policy and population projections.

The full report is available for download and review. Download the GHG Inventory Report (2 MB).

NOVEMBER: The requirements of the CPRG program provide a very short timeline for developing the first deliverable – the Priority Climate Action Plan, or “PCAP.” The PCAP, which will list the Region’s highest priority, near-term greenhouse gas reduction projects, is due by March 1, 2024. Projects listed in the PCAP will be eligible projects for funding from US EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grant competition. Local governments, or consortiums of local governments and non-profits, are eligible to apply for a share of the $4.3 billion dedicated for pollution reduction projects.

PROJECT TIMELINE

  • May 31, 2023 – CPRG grant application submitted
  • July – September 2023 – Consultant RFP process conducted by MVRPC
  • August 1, 2023 – notice of award from US EPA
  • August 9, 2023 – first meeting of the Water & Environment Subcommittee
  • September 22, 2023 – entered into a contract with Sustainability Solutions Group for technical and engagement support of the CPRG project.
  • October 11, 2023 – second meeting of the Water & Environment Subcommittee
  • December 6, 2023 – third meeting of the Water & Environment Subcommittee
  • January 10, 2024 – fourth meeting of the Water & Environment Subcommittee
  • January 11, 2024 – Public comment period for the draft PCAP opens
  • February 1, 2024 – virtual public meeting regarding the Draft PCAP
  • February 1, 2024 – Notice of Intent to apply for CPRG Implementation Grant is due (optional)
  • February 9, 2024 – Public comment period for the Draft PCAP closes
  • February 15, 2024 – MVRPC Technical Advisory Committee meeting
  • March 1, 2024 – due date for the Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP)
  • March 13, 2024 -  meeting of the Water and Environment Subcommittee
  • April 1, 2024 – application deadline for CPRG Implementation Grants
  • June 1, 2025 – due date for the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP)
  • June 1, 2027 – due date for the final Status Report on CCAP implementation

FURTHER RESOURCES

CONTACT

To learn more about the Climate Pollution Reduction planning process at MVRPC, please contact Matt Lindsay, Manager of Environmental Planning at mlindsay@mvrpc.org or 937.531.6548