On October 24, 2023, Centralina held a Centralina Learns session focused on the topic of Climate and Sustainability Planning. During this session, local government staff learned about strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting built environments to be more resilient and saw examples of what climate planning looks like in our region.
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. EPA is providing funding through a new initiative called the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. CPRG provides funding to assist state, local and tribal governments in the development of initiatives, plans and programs to reduce the release of greenhouse gases and related co-pollutants. This article details the two phases of the program’s process and how Centralina is working to meet necessary deadlines for grant implementation.
September was National Preparedness Month, the perfect time for Centralina Community Economic Development (CED) staff to travel to Anson County to collaborate on pre-disaster recovery planning. Centralina CED, Anson County Emergency Management, staff from various departments within Anson County and subject matter experts from Innovative Emergency Management partnered with critical private-public entities to learn about how they may collaboratively inform economic resilience for their communities.
Centralina Regional Council received a $1 million planning grant through the U.S EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, a two-stage grant program that includes funding for noncompetitive planning grants and competitive implementation grants. Our staff will serve as the lead entity for the 13-county, bi-state area and will prepare a series of plans designed to support local needs and priorities toward improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The South Fork of the Catawba River is the largest tributary in the Catawba River System and flows through Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties. This river is beloved by the communities it touches, offering miles of natural landscapes, great fishing spots, endless hours of kayaking within a momentsâ drive and acts as home to a variety of wildlife, such as the great blue herons, osprey, bald eagles and deer. Unfortunately, population growth and development in the South Fork basin area over the years have resulted in adverse impacts on the riverâs health and on the communities themselves. Frequent flooding of nearby municipalities and a decline in the water quality influenced former Mayor of Cramerton, Will Cauthen, to develop and prioritize a plan to improve both the health of the river and address its impact on the community.
2023 marks 30 years since the establishment of the Clean Cities Program through the Department of Energy (DOE). Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC) is one of over 75 coalitions nationwide that work at the local level to advance clean, affordable transportation fuel technologies and systems along with energy-efficient mobility systems. This past month, our CCFC team was out and about in our region and beyond, championing issues surrounding clean energy and enhanced mobility.
As innovations in transportation and energy advance, it is important to ensure all communities can benefit from these new developments. Historically, discriminatory zoning and lending practices have forced residents of color and low-income residents to live closer to sources of toxic pollution, such as highways and industrial sites. The impacts of systematically excluding communities of color and low-income communities from planning and decision-making around transportation and energy are still seen and felt.
For decades, the United States has been working to move past its dependence on fossil fuels. This article highlights the efforts made on the state level to help promote cleaner transportation and how Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition is furthering these initiatives in our region.
Stormwater management has been identified as a critical component of hazard mitigation plans across the Centralina region and beyond. Natural and manmade disruptions will continue to emerge, threatening the health, safety, and economic vitality of our communities.
The Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC) is the designated Clean Cities Coalition for the greater Charlotte region through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This year saw CCFC redouble our efforts through a variety of innovative, collaborative projects. As 2022 draws to a close, letâs look back at the top five successes for clean, equitable transportation across the region over the last year.