Climate Justice Grants Act

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a grant program for projects and activities to address climate justice concerns of environmental justice communities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Climate Justice Grants Act 2. Climate Justice Grant Program (a) Establishment The Administrator shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide grants to eligible entities to assist the eligible entities in— (1) building capacity to address issues relating to climate justice; and (2) carrying out any activity described in subsection (d). (b) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall be a Tribal government, local government, or nonprofit, community-based organization. (c) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including— (1) an outline describing the means by which the project proposed by the eligible entity will— (A) with respect to climate justice issues at the local level, increase the understanding of the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity will conduct the project; (B) improve the ability of the environmental justice community to address each issue described in subparagraph (A); (C) facilitate collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders (including members of the environmental justice community); and (D) support the ability of the environmental justice community to proactively plan and implement climate justice initiatives; (2) a proposed budget for each activity of the project that is the subject of the application; (3) a list of proposed outcomes with respect to the proposed project; (4) a description of the ways by which the eligible entity may leverage the funds of the eligible entity, or the funds made available through a grant under this subsection, to develop a project that is capable of being sustained beyond the period of the grant; and (5) a description of the ways by which the eligible entity is linked to, and representative of, the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity will conduct the project. (d) Use of funds An eligible entity may only use a grant under this subsection to carry out culturally and linguistically appropriate projects and activities that are driven by the needs, opportunities, and priorities of the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity proposes to conduct the project or activity to address climate justice concerns of the environmental justice community, including activities— (1) to create or develop collaborative partnerships; (2) to educate and provide outreach services to the environmental justice community on climate justice; (3) to identify and implement projects to address climate justice concerns, including community solar and wind energy projects, energy efficiency, home and building electrification, home and building weatherization, energy storage, solar and wind energy supported microgrids, battery electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, natural infrastructure, and climate resilient infrastructure. (e) Limitations on amount The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $2,000,000 for any grant recipient. (f) Report (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the ways by which the grant program under this subsection has helped eligible entities address issues relating to energy and climate justice. (2) Public availability The Administrator shall make each report required under paragraph (1) available to the public (including by posting a copy of the report on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency). (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2031. The Administrator may not use more than 2 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year for administrative expenses, including outreach and technical assistance to eligible entities. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Climate justice The term climate justice (3) Environmental justice community The term environmental justice community (4) Indigenous community The term indigenous community (A) a federally recognized Indian Tribe; (B) a State-recognized Indian Tribe; (C) an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community or organization; and (D) any other community of indigenous people, including communities in other countries. (5) Low income The term low income (A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line. (6) Low-income community The term low-income community (7) Natural infrastructure The term natural infrastructure (A) is created through the action of natural physical, geological, biological, and chemical processes over time; (B) is created by human design, engineering, and construction to emulate or act in concert with natural processes; or (C) involves the use of plants, soils, and other natural features, including through the creation, restoration, or preservation of vegetated areas using materials appropriate to the region to manage stormwater and runoff, to attenuate flooding and storm surges, and for other related purposes. (8) Population of color The term population of color (A) Black; (B) African American; (C) Asian; (D) Pacific Islander; (E) another non-White race; (F) Hispanic; (G) Latino; or (H) linguistically isolated.

Summary: Climate Justice Grants Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to assist tribal governments, local governments, nonprofits, or community-based organizations in addressing issues relating to climate justice and carrying out activities that address climate justice concerns of environmental justice communities. Environmental justice communities refers to any population of color, community of color, indigenous community, or low-income community that experiences a disproportionate burden of the negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or other environmental hazards.