Minnesota is receiving a $200 million grant to reduce climate pollution in food systems.
"So I'm really excited that this is a grant that's really looking at climate smart food systems, and how do we think about them together, because they're so interrelated," Lenarz-Coy says.
Minnesota will use the $200 million grant money to reduce climate pollution and implement, they say, a wide range of improvements to the state's food system.
The project will support peatland restoration, climate-friendly agriculture, energy efficiency, vehicle and equipment electrification, and advanced clean fuels, climate friendly refrigerants and food waste prevention.
“Minnesota is a national leader in developing sustainable solutions to address climate change and ensure a safe and healthy future for our kids,” said Governor Tim Walz. “This funding will help us continue this work and implement a wide range of improvements to our food system: from climate-smart farming practices to scaling up food waste prevention programs. The Inflation Reduction Act is helping Minnesota make great strides on climate change.”
The money comes as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.
The 25 selected applications – from states, a Tribe, local governments, and coalitions of these entities – will receive federal funding to implement local and regional solutions. Many of these projects can be expanded and provide examples that other states, local governments, Tribes, and even businesses can replicate in their work to tackle the climate crisis.
EPA expects to announce up to an additional $300 million in selections under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program for Tribes, Tribal consortia, and territories later this summer.