EPA Awards $500,000 to U.S. Virgin Islands for Climate Pollution Reduction Planning

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency is taking more steps toward supporting the U.S. Virgin Islands' efforts to combat climate change through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia, along with V.I. Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming and other dignitaries, announced a $500,000 grant awarded to the VIEO under the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program.

This funding, part of the IRA's initiatives, is earmarked for the development of a comprehensive climate action plan for the USVI. The plan aims to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction across critical sectors such as electricity generation, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, natural and working lands, and waste management. The grant seeks to enable the USVI to pinpoint GHG reduction opportunities and assess the benefits of energy efficiency programs.

Garcia expressed her enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the unique position of Caribbean islands in the climate change battle. "People living in the U.S. Virgin Islands understand the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emission sources, and this funding is an important step forward in our joint efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change," she stated.

Echoing Garcia's sentiments, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett lauded the grant as a transformative move for the territory's climate change fight, praising the commitment of VIEO and Mr. Fleming in securing this essential funding.