On January 10, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a record $100 million in funding through the Inflation Reduction Act for projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, “I couldn’t be prouder to now be announcing an unprecedented level of funding thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act for community-based solutions that support underserved and overburdened communities. This is a key step that will help build strong partnerships with communities across the country and move us closer to realizing a more just and equitable future for all.”
Getting Off Gas, Block by Block
Despite its complexities, block-level decommissioning is likely more effective than an individual, house-by-house approach, offering untapped economies of scale that can be replicated across California. Dr. Therese Peffer provides insight into the challenges of pruning gas at the neighborhood block scale and its implications for the Oakland EcoBlock project.