Biden-Harris Administration announces University of Southern Maine selected to receive $350,000 to help craft beverage manufacturers in Maine and Vermont prevent pollution as part of Investing in America agenda
BOSTON (Oct. 31, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the University of Southern Maine has been selected to receive $350,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.
- The New England Environmental Finance Center (NEEFC) has been selected to receive $350,000 to provide technical assistance to craft beverage manufacturers in Maine and Vermont. The technical assistance will advance sustainability practices that reduce energy, water, and waste as well as chemical use, and provide assessments of in-house chemicals for toxicity and recommendations for transitioning to less hazardous packaging and circular economy solutions as prescribed in the BetterBev recognition program. NEEFC is a center at the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine, a member of the University of Maine System.
"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."
"Maine knows the importance of environmental stewardship and has long been a leader in pollution reduction, but we cannot let up on our efforts as we continue to fight against the impacts of climate change and work to eliminate contamination," said U.S. Senator Angus King. "This $350,000 grant to support the University of Southern Maine's New England Environmental Finance Center will go to craft beverage manufactures in Maine and assist their efforts to better reduce chemical use and transition to circular economy solutions. I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and am encouraged to see it continue to drive Maine and our nation forward toward a more resilient future."
"I'm thrilled to see the University of Southern Maine receive a $350,000 grant to help craft brewers in Maine and Vermont cut back on hazardous chemicals and transition to more sustainable, circular economy packaging," said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, ranking member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee." This funding will provide vital technical support to Maine's growing craft beverage industry, by helping them to adopt greener, more eco-friendly practices that not only protect our environment but also enhance business efficiency. I'm proud to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic funding for pollution prevention being put to work in our state. This is a win for our economy and a win for our planet—showing what's possible when we invest in sustainable innovation. I will continue fighting to ensure the EPA has the resources it needs to help Maine's businesses lead the way in embracing a circular economy."
"The New England Environmental Finance Center is thrilled to receive Pollution Prevent (P2) funding from the US EPA! This funding will allow the NEEFC to continue to support craft beverage manufacturers in Maine and Vermont in their efforts to optimize operations and improve efficiency. The NEEFC is also excited to continue to collaborate with EPA Regions 1, 3, and 4 P2 grant recipients in the BetterBev effort, aligning technical assistance processes and Green Craft Beverage Recognition, leading to vastly improved beverage manufacturing guidance. None of this work would be happening at its impressive and growing scale without the support of the US EPA," said NEEFC's Luke Truman.
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.