• Climate Action Planning Services for American Communities

    Get federal funding and support to develop an effective climate action plan

SSG offers tailored climate action planning services for US communities looking to use Inflation Reduction Act and Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding.

Download our FREE Quickstart Guide to Climate Action Planning

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  • Our Services

We are leading climate planning experts. Our team combines community insights with technical analysis to develop climate action plans that maximize job creation, address inequities, reduce pollution, and improve public health and wellbeing.

We have worked with over 100 North American communities to create context-specific, actionable climate action plans that are being successfully financed and implemented. Our clients range from small towns to large cities and States.

Whether you need modeling and technical analysis, design and implementation of a meaningful public engagement process, or both, we offer customized support.

Climate Action Planning

We help decision-makers create viable plans for reducing greenhouse gasses and adapting to climate change. 

We enable communities to reach their emissions reduction goals by supporting the identification of key existing data, compiling accurate and comprehensive GHG inventories, offering technical expertise to analyze outcomes, and robust public engagement to develop feasible actions that are specific to the local context.

Modelling and Technical Analysis

Our energy, emissions, land-use, and financial scenario modelling enables decision-makers to map out possible futures to determine how to reduce emissions, create jobs, and optimize land use to create equitable, decarbonized, healthy communities. 

We build inventories that enable clients to take stock of their energy use and emissions, so they can determine reduction strategies and track progress. 

Public Engagement

We excel in collaborative public engagement for climate action planning and execution. Our team emphasizes fostering genuine opportunities for shared decision-making, valuing the public’s ability to enhance climate action projects. We base our approach on the globally recognized International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) engagement framework.

More Services

  • Project Examples

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Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

Catalyzing Transformation of American Cities

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) offers non-competitive grants to states, 67 identified metropolitan areas, and Tribes to develop climate action plans over the next four years. Smaller municipalities can partner with their states or metropolitan area, or apply for the funding themselves if their state did not submit a Notice of Intent by the deadline. The planning process enables grantees to identify the types of actions that will lead to the greatest reductions in emissions for their communities.

Eligible Entities

  • States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico: $3 million each
  • Metropolitan Statistical Areas: $1 million each to 67 most populous
  • Territories: $500,000 (each)
  • Tribes: $25 million (total)

Note: the EPA recommends that metropolitan areas and municipalities that do not fall within the top 67 MSA, still submit an Notice of Intent to Participate (NOIP) as more funding may become available if states or MSAs choose not to apply for funding.

For more information about how to apply for the CPR Planning Grants:

Key Dates

  • April 28 2023

    States: Deadline for application (workplan + budget)

    MSA: Deadline for submitting Notice of Intent

  • May 31 2023

    MSA: Deadline for submitting application (workplan + budget)

  • June 15 2023

    Tribes and Territories: Deadline for application (workplan + budget)

  • July-August 2023

    States + MSA: planning grants awarded

  • August-September 2023

    Tribes and Territories: planning grants awarded

What are the expected outcomes?

  • Deliverable 1

  • Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP)
  • March 1, 2024
  • GHG inventory;
    Quantified GHG reduction measures;
    Low-income and disadvantaged communities benefits analysis; and
    Review of authority to implement.
  • Deliverable 2

  • Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP)

  • Summer-fall 2025
  • GHG inventory;
    GHG emissions projections;
    GHG reduction targets;
    Quantified GHG reduction measures;
    Benefits analysis for the full geographic scope and population covered by the plan;
    Low-income and disadvantaged communities benefits analysis;
    Review of authority to implement;
    Plan to leverage other federal funding; and
    Workforce planning analysis.

Sample CPRG Work Plan

The following approach aligns with the requirements of the CPRG, where the deliverables in the CCAP (Part 2) build on the deliverables from the PCAP (Part 1). An engagement process threads throughout, informing the technical analysis. For more detailed guidance, see our climate action planning guide for US communities. 

Download our FREE Quickstart Guide to Climate Action Planning

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Part 1: Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP)

  • Preparation

    1

    Duration: 1 month

    • Create project team, terms of reference
    • Create project website
    • Choose a GHG inventory protocol
    • Develop engagement plan
    • Lay project groundwork

  • GHG inventories

    2

    Duration: 2 months

    • Develop greenhouse gas inventory
    • Analyze the key drivers of emissions through a combination of technical analysis and community input

  • Actions and Scenarios

    3

    Duration: 3 months

    • Develop a catalog of possible actions and policies
    • Deploy an energy and emissions model
    • Seek input from the public
    • Determine mix of actions that best suits your community to reach your climate goals

  • Climate Justice

    4

    Duration: 1 month

    • Spatially evaluate the impact of actions across your community
    • Consider how to design actions to ease inequities

Part 2: Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP)

  • Targets

    1

    Duration: 1 month

    Identify a target for your climate action plan. The sooner you hit net zero, the better!

  • Financial Analysis

    2

    Duration: 1 month

    • Use a model to evaluate the financial impacts of your low-carbon pathway.
    • Identify the investment required, the impact of energy costs, the return on investment, and impact on the labor market.

  • Co-benefits Analysis

    3

    Duration: 1 month

    • Identify the positive impacts your climate action plan will have on your community.
    • Common co-benefits include cleaner air, lower long-term energy costs, improved green spaces, better health, and more.

  • Implementation Planning

    4

    Duration: 1-3 months

    •  Identify specific programs, policies, and actions to implement your climate action plan.

  • Final Plan

    5

    Duration: 1-2 months

    • Develop a final plan that details your target, the climate actions you will deploy to reach your goal, the financial and co-benefits analyses, and your near- and long-term implementation plan.

Resources

How local governments can pull the emergency brake, and take climate action now

Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAP) empower governments to act while they plan, rather than waiting for a plan to act. How do we make sure we are acting smart, while acting fast?

How two American cities integrated federal funding into their climate action plans

SSG collaborated with Lakewood, Ohio and Ames, Iowa to identify the role of specific federal funds through detailed financial modeling. They are, to our knowledge, the first municipalities to account for federal funding from the Infrastructure Bill and Inflation Reduction Act in their climate action plans—setting them up to save hundreds of millions of dollars by taking climate action.

Webinar: How to Advance Climate Action With Federal Funding

Join us on April 25 for a webinar that will provide guidance on applying for Inflation Reduction Act grants for advancing climate action. Learn about how to design an effective climate action plan to make you competitive for a slice of the $4.6-billion set aside for implementing climate actions.

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