Biden-Harris Administration announces Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management selected to receive over $306,000 to help craft beverage sector prevent pollution as part of Investing in America agenda
BOSTON (Oct. 31, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has been selected to receive $306,441 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.
- The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has been selected to receive $306,441. Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) will provide P2 technical assistance to Rhode Island's craft beverage sector with an emphasis on reducing environmental and health impacts for businesses and disadvantaged communities. As part of the BetterBev New England Green Craft Beverage Recognition Program, RIDEM will continue to work with other New England P2 technical assistance providers to assist craft beverage producers in implementing environmentally friendly practices which save energy, conserve water, minimize wastewater, avoid toxic or hazardous chemicals and reduce greenhouse gases.
"Every community deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment—and pollution prevention grants help achieve that by reducing waste at the source. By adopting smarter and innovative practices that limit the use of toxic materials and conserve resources, these investments are helping our partners to support New England businesses to cut costs, grow sustainably, and protect the environment," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, together we're creating lasting benefits for local economies and ensuring that environmental progress and economic growth go hand in hand and reach all communities, including those that need it most. That's Investing in America."
"Rhode Island is home to a growing number of excellent craft brewers," said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "This investment will help small brewers cut costs, save energy, and prevent pollution to cleanly produce some of the nation's best craft beers."
"Every Rhode Islander deserves to breathe clean air and drink clean water," said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner. "This federal funding will help remove pollution and toxins from the environment while helping businesses save money on energy costs — a win-win."
"As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I'm glad that this funding through the Environmental Protection Agency will help reduce pollution and waste for Rhode Island's thriving craft beverage sector to save energy, conserve water, reduce toxic waste, and shrink its carbon emissions footprint," said U.S. Representative Gabe Amo.
"DEM is grateful to receive this funding from EPA to continue growing our partnership with Rhode Island's craft breweries through our Green Breweries Program, which provides technical assistance to local breweries to help improve performance and reduce environmental impacts," said Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Terry Gray. "I always enjoy locally grown, locally harvested, and locally brewed products, and this award will help the Ocean State's breweries continue implementing green practices and receive well-deserved recognition through the BetterBev program."
In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business' efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. These practices are essential for protecting health, improving environmental conditions–including in and around disadvantaged communities–and preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.
Between 2011-2022, EPA's Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kWh in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials, and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.
The agency expects to award funds once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Once awarded, selected grantees will document and share P2 best practices that they identify and develop through these grants, so that others can replicate these practices and outcomes. Each selected grantee will also develop at least one case study during the grant period on P2 practices that are new or not widely known or adopted, or where detailed information on the P2 practices could benefit other businesses or P2 technical assistance providers.
The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA's Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA's Pollution Prevention website.
Background
President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA's P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022 and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.
The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA's Pollution Prevention website.
Read more about P2 and EPA's P2 Grant Program.