July 22, 2024

Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $430 Million for Community-Driven Climate and Environment Solutions in Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $430,251,378 in federal support to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to help implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. Today’s funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, and will help Illinois support initiatives focused on decarbonization, freight electrification, climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy.

“To continue making critical progress to help protect every American’s right to breathe safe air, drink clean water as well as live, work and play on uncontaminated land, we need to make significant investments in community-driven solutions,” Duckworth said. “Today’s substantial EPA investment—made possible by President Biden’s historic Justice40 initiative—into Illinois will help bring us closer to achieving the goal of securing true environmental justice for Illinoisans, no matter their zip code. As a co-founder of the Senate’s Environmental Justice Caucus, I’ll keep pushing more of the long-overdue resources needed to help promote health equity, advance clean energy solutions, secure cleaner drinking water and tackle legacy pollution in communities that have borne the heaviest burdens of environmental contamination for far too long.”

“All Illinoisans deserve safe air to breathe and clean water to drink. This grant will make this a reality for our communities that have long been overburdened by industrial pollution and will contribute to a healthier planet,” said Durbin. “These significant resources that EPA has allocated to our state thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act will support IEPA’s efforts to address the climate crisis. The funds will help protect the planet for the next generation by investing in climate-smart agriculture and decarbonization, reduce air pollution, and reach 100% carbon-free power by 2045.” 

As co-chair and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Duckworth has been a strong advocate for bringing environmental justice to Illinois and across the country.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants advance President Biden’s historic Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.  

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