by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

A coalition of groups representing Northwest Arkansas, the Fort Smith metro and central Arkansas will receive $99.999 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support climate change reduction efforts in the three areas.

According to Monday’s (July 22) EPA announcement, the grant funds will pay for technologies and programs that reduce harmful emissions, and pay for infrastructure, housing, and other “competitive economy” developments “needed for a clean energy future.”

“When estimates provided by all selected applicants are combined, the proposed projects would reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050, roughly the emissions from 5 million average homes’ energy use each year for over 25 years,” noted the EPA press release announcing the funds.

Arkansas coalition receives $99.9 million EPA grant for environmental projects

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

An Arkansas environmental leader says a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon emissions will have negative consequences for the state.

The 6-3 decision was handed down on June 30 in the case of West Virginia v. EPA. As NPR News reported, the court said any such regulations must be authorized by Congress. It’s unique as no other such agency limits have been imposed in at least 75 years and could have implications on other government agencies.

Glen Hooks is the former chapter director of the Arkansas Sierra Club, which has been involved in litigation against energy companies in an effort to shut down the dirtiest plants in the state. Today he is policy manager at Audubon Delta, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-07-16/recent-supreme-court-epa-ruling-will-negatively-impact-arkansas-activist-says