EPA Requests Grant Applications For Climate Change

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it is making up to $5 million in grants available to U.S. and international organizations to fund innovative, international methane reduction and use projects that cut global climate pollution. The grants will be issued through the Methane to Markets Partnership, a public-private partnership that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, a GHG that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Methane capture and use projects supported by the partnership through grants and other means are currently reducing emissions by more than 27.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually – equivalent to the annual emissions from 5 million passenger vehicles.

Non-profit or government organizations in any country may apply for grant funding, but projects should take place in the following Methane to Markets Partner countries:

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

If an organization wishes to submit an application for a project in a developing country or a country with an economy in transition that is not listed above, the country must first apply to the Methane to Markets Partnership before the project can be considered for funding. Grant proposals should support feasibility studies, technology transfer, deployment of technology, training, methane emissions inventories, and other activities that promote methane capture and use. The agency expects to award up to 35 cooperative assistance agreements ranging from approximately $100,000 to $750,000. Proposals are due by April 15, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. EST. EPA estimates that awards would be made at the end of 2010.

Since the launch of the partnership in 2004, EPA has provided almost $13 million for nearly 70 grants to build capacity and promote international capture and use of methane. This work will be highlighted in 2010 when EPA, the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry host the 2nd Methane to Markets Partnership Expo on March 2-5, 2010 in Delhi, India. The expo will bring together approximately 1,000 partners and methane experts from around the world to showcase project opportunities and technologies related to the capture and use of methane. More grant information (EPA)