Why most red states will soon have climate plans

By Adam Aton | 03/01/2024 06:21 AM EST

The Inflation Reduction Act offered governors $3 million to craft plans to reduce emissions — and most of them took it.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a June 23, 2023, news conference to announce the reopening of Interstate 95.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) speaks during a June 23, 2023, news conference to announce the reopening of Interstate 95. Joe Lamberti/AP

Before this week is out, almost every U.S. state will have a climate plan.

The reason: a little-known program that experts and climate advocates credit as one of the most important parts of President Joe Biden’s signature climate law. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program offered $3 million to states to develop a climate plan — and all but five governors took it, bringing climate planning into state capitals where Republicans have otherwise shown little interest in decarbonization.

Now, those climate plans are due. States face a Friday deadline to submit their plans to EPA, followed by an April deadline to apply for implementation grants worth between $2 million and $500 million. (The program also sets aside $300 million for tribes and territories in a separate process.)

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The grants encourage states to experiment with new policies that other states — and even the federal government — could later copy.

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