Tag Archive for: EPA

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HAC’s Comments on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

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HAC has submitted its second comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the the new $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) created by the Inflation Reduction Act. In late April, EPA released an implementation framework explaining that it plans to divide the program into three competitions. The $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund will fund two or three national nonprofits to partner with private capital providers to deliver financing at scale to businesses, communities, community lenders, and others. The $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator competition will fund two to seven hub nonprofits to build the capacity of lenders such as CDFIs and housing finance agencies to finance clean technology projects. The $7 billion Solar for All competition will make grants to states, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to prepare low-income and disadvantaged communities for residential and community solar. EPA expects to issue Notices of Funding Opportunity as early as June.

HAC first commented in December after EPA asked for general feedback. In its second letter, HAC repeats some of the suggestions made in December and makes some additional points about the implementation framework, asking EPA to:

  • Address the unique needs of rural and persistent poverty communities.
  • Ensure that nonprofit CDFIs and their nonprofit housing development partners are explicitly eligible for GGRF resources.
  • Increase clarity and reduce administrative burden on recipients.
  • Exempt housing from Build America, Buy America requirements.

Read HAC’s full comments here.

HAC GGRF Comment Letter
Policy News field

HAC Submits Comments on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

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HAC submitted comments in response to the October 21, 2022 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GHGRF) published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). GHGRF is a new program created by the Inflation Reduction Act and will be administered by EPA. This first-of-its-kind program will provide $27 billion in competitive grants to mobilize financing and leverage private capital for clean energy and climate projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with an emphasis on projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. A wide range of activities, including those related to housing, could qualify for GHGRF.

GHGRF funds are divided into three pools. There are $7 billion for competitive grants to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy or benefit from zero-emission technologies, including distributed technologies on residential rooftops. Nearly $12 billion will be used for competitive grants to eligible entities to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Another $8 billion is for competitive grants to eligible entities to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

HAC’s comments focused on four main points.

Key Takeaways

  1. Leverage the extensive existing network of CDFIs to ensure rapid, equitable, and widespread investment.
  2. Address the unique needs of rural and persistent poverty communities.
  3. Recognize the key role of housing assistance in meeting GHGRF’s goals.
  4. Include equity principles in all elements of the GHGRF program design.

To learn more about HAC’s full recommendations, read our full comment letter.

GGRFCommentHACFinal

 

19th Annual Affordable Housing Conference

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To have an event posted on our calendar*, please e-mail Dan Stern. Or send event description or brochure to:

Housing Assistance Council
Attn: Dan Stern
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW
Suite 606
Washington, DC 20005

Or fax to (202) 347-3441
Attn: Dan Stern

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*Calendar Posting Guidelines:

HAC’s calendar posts announcements about periodic conferences, training sessions, audioconferences, and the like. Topics must be relevant to professionals in the rural housing and community development arena. HAC reserves the right to accept or decline any request to post an item. We do not include sessions provided by entities (for-profit or nonprofit) that offer numerous regularly scheduled training events; links to such entities are provided below.

Community Connections
IPED
HUD Calendar
NeighborWorks
Novogradac and Compan

Back to Trainings

19th Annual Affordable Housing Conference

Start Date: September 20, 2012
End Date: September 21, 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Registration: https://www.novoco.com/events/lihtc/san_francisco/index.php

Who Should Attend:
  • Developers
  • Attorneys
  • Accountants
  • Consultants
  • Investors, lenders and syndicators
  • Agency officials and not-for-profit representatives
Why You Should Attend:
  • hear the latest on the legal and tax issues, trends, strategies and public policy of the LIHTC
  • meet with developers and explore how the LIHTC can provide a co-operative and profitable path in meeting financial objectives
  • stay current on strategies and legislation; learn of new and innovative ways the LIHTC program can serve your interests; and familiarize yourself with HUD’s incentives
Hotel Accommodations

Please call reservations and identify yourself as an attendee of the 19th Annual Tax Credit Developers Conference to secure the discounted rate. The number is 800.WESTIN1. A limited block of rooms will be held until August 27, 2012.

Reservations made after August 27, 2012 will be accepted on a space-available basis only and cannot be guaranteed at the discount rate.

The Westin St. Francis

Essential Smart Growth Fixes: Ideas for Rural Communities

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To have an event posted on our calendar*, please e-mail Dan Stern. Or send event description or brochure to:

Housing Assistance Council
Attn: Dan Stern
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW
Suite 606
Washington, DC 20005

Or fax to (202) 347-3441
Attn: Dan Stern

[addthis2][/addthis2]

*Calendar Posting Guidelines:

HAC’s calendar posts announcements about periodic conferences, training sessions, audioconferences, and the like. Topics must be relevant to professionals in the rural housing and community development arena. HAC reserves the right to accept or decline any request to post an item. We do not include sessions provided by entities (for-profit or nonprofit) that offer numerous regularly scheduled training events; links to such entities are provided below.

Community Connections
IPED
HUD Calendar
NeighborWorks
Novogradac and Compan

Back to Trainings

Essential Smart Growth Fixes: Ideas for Rural Communities

Date: July 19, 2012
Registration: https://www.epa.gov/dced/webinars/index.html

On Thursday, July 19, join EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities to discuss tools and strategies that can help rural communities spur economic growth while maintaining their rural character. Presenters Ben Herman (FAICP and Principal of Clarion Associates, a national land use firm) and Dean Severson (AICP and Principal Agricultural and Rural Planning Analyst for the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Planning Commission) will highlight zoning strategies from EPA’s recent publication, “Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Rural Planning, Zoning and Development Codes,” and provide tips for implementation. Download the report from https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/publications.htm.

Webinar Details
Thursday, July 19, 2012, 2:00-3:00 Eastern
To join this webinar, click on https://epa.connectsolutions.com/epasmartgrowth Link to EPA's External Link Disclaimer
No pre-registration is required.
Participants must also phone in. Audio is not available through the webinar.
Conference Number: (866) 299-3188. Participant Code: 2025662950

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