Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG)

Virginia has a clear and vested interest in cleaner air, reliable and affordable clean energy generation, and improved resilience from increased storm frequency and intensity. In addition, many areas of Virginia and key infrastructure are vulnerable to changing climatic conditions.

DEQ has received a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) for climate action planning from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The planning process will identify ways to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) in addition to other air pollutants across Virginia.

Learn more about Virginia's involvement in the CPRG program by viewing the tabs below or visiting our Frequently Asked Questions!

Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP)

pcap, priority climate action plan DEQ submitted the final Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) for the Commonwealth of Virginia to EPA on March 1. The PCAP is the first of two climate action plans developed under the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). The PCAP focused on identifying short-term actions that could be implemented to reduce climate pollution in Virginia in addition to allowing the Commonwealth to apply for CPRG implementation grants, which were due the following month, on April 1.

DEQ held meetings to inform the public about the PCAP development process, including critical deadlines, ways to provide input, and next steps (e.g., competitive implementation grants and development of the CCAP). DEQ also engaged representatives of state agencies, Tribes, local governments, disadvantaged communities, and other stakeholders.

DEQ’s PCAP contains the three Metropolitan Statistical Area regional PCAPS that have also been submitted to EPA (Appendix G) and are provided below.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Analysis and Pathways (GHGRAP)

Virginia's second planning deliverable of the CPRG program is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Analysis and Pathways (GHGRAP). The GHGRAP develops a 25-year strategy to efficiently reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other air pollutants. This plan will align with existing goals and requirements for reducing GHG emissions and increasing clean energy generation as prescribed by the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). The analysis will cover all source sectors of the GHG inventory and must be submitted to EPA by June 2026.

The GHGRAP deliverable will contain the following core components, among others:

A statewide greenhouse gas emissions inventory, future projections, & reduction targets
Potential emission reduction strategies and funding opportunities
An analysis of air quality, workforce, and community impacts

CCAP Stakeholder Group

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) engaged a stakeholder group to informally discuss assumptions and approaches for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). This plan will identify Virginia-specific opportunities, challenges, and potential paths forward to reduce climate pollution.

The names and affiliations of stakeholder participants are accessible here.

Please find a timeline of stakeholder group meetings below.

The first meeting was held on Thursday November 7, 2024.
- Please view this town hall notice to access agenda materials and meeting minutes.
- To access the supporting presentation, click here.
- Detailed meeting notes are accessible here.
The second meeting was held on Wednesday December 11, 2024.
- Please view this town hall notice to access agenda materials and meeting minutes.
- To access the supporting presentation, click here.
- Detailed meeting notes are accessible here.
The third meeting was held on Wednesday January 29, 2025.
- Please view this town hall notice to access agenda materials and meeting minutes.
- To access the supporting presentation, click here.
- Detailed meeting notes are also accessible here.
The fourth and final meeting was held on Tuesday March 18, 2025.
- Please view this town hall notice to access agenda materials and meeting minutes.
- To access the supporting presentation, click here.
- Detailed meeting notes are also accessible here.

Coordination and Outreach

A robust stakeholder and public outreach process is being deployed to capture the ideas and comments of Virginia's residents. This outreach casts a wide net and includes a focus on underrepresented communities. Methods for seeking public input include community listening and information sessions, in-person meetings, community-based tabling events, resource fairs, and digital engagement methods such as this webpage, surveys, and webinars.

To learn more about how you can participate, please view our Public Participation Guide in one of the following languages: English, Español (Spanish), 한국인 (Korean), tiếng việt (Vietnamese), or 中国⼈ (Chinese).

Coordination between DEQ and other key state agencies continue to be critical to a successful planning effort. An interagency coordination workgroup is being organized to include the Virginia Energy, Transportation, Housing and Community Development, Conservation and Recreation, and others.

Coordination with regional planning organizations such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), and the Richmond and Hampton Roads Planning District Commissions (PDCs) will also be critical as these regional planning organizations are also working on regional climate plans. Coordination with federally recognized Tribes in Virginia is also important goal guiding the outreach process. A key component will be to provide assistance to local governments and Tribes in developing or updating their greenhouse gas inventories and action plans.

Project Implementation Grants

On Monday, July 22nd, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been selected to receive two Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG). These grants are providing $197,237,676 for greenhouse gas reduction initiatives to be implemented in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The first grant of $99,999,999 is funding a coalition between DEQ and the Virginia Department of Energy, aiming to reduce methane emissions in the Commonwealth. This grant will fund three programs targeted at capturing and using fugitive coal mine methane, capturing and utilizing landfill methane, and composting and rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste.

The second award of $421,238,074 is funding a four-state coalition led by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. This coalition will allocate funds to the Maryland Department of the Environment, the South Carolina Office of Resilience, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Virginia DEQ. DEQ will receive $50,000,000 to protect and restore wetlands and forests on natural and working lands, with these projects being implemented by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Virginia Port Authority, with an aside for projects on tribal lands. $47,237,677 of TNC’s funds will be used to implement additional carbon sequestration projects in Virginia.

For more information on Virginia's project implementation grants, visit our webpage linked here! 25 grants total were awarded to states, municipalities, and Tribes across the country under the CPRG general competition. Find out more about EPA’s implementation grant selections here.

Meeting Records

DEQ hosted webinars on September 26, 2023 to kick off the climate planning process. The links to the presentation and recording of the webinar are provided below:
- Presentation
- Recording

EPA recently announced two competitions for Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program (CPRG) implementation grants – a general competition for applications from states, municipalities, tribes, tribal consortia, and territories, and a competition only for tribes, tribal consortia, and territories. The general competition is open to entities that received planning grants to develop Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs), as well as eligible entities that did not directly receive a planning grant that are applying for funds to implement measures included in an applicable PCAP. DEQ hosted a webinar on the general competition On October 31, 2023 here. The link to the recording of the webinar is provided below:
- Presentation
- Recording

DEQ hosted a Statewide Virtual Community Meeting on January 9, 2024. The links to the presentation and recording of the meeting are provided below:
- Presentation
- Recording

DEQ held two online public meetings on the draft Priority Climate Action Plan on February 22, 2024. The links to the presentation and recording of the meeting are provided below:
- Presentation
- Recording

DEQ hosted two webinars on October 10, 2024 to introduce the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP), which is the second climate action plan required under the CPRG planning grant. The CCAP will cover all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sectors and evaluate current and future projected GHG emissions under several different scenarios. The webinar described the plan development process and its required components. Other topics included: 1) a review of the progress made by DEQ under the CPRG program to date, 2) the current GHG inventory for Virginia, and 3) the upcoming planning and engagement process and schedule. The links to the presentation and recording of the webinar are provided below:
- Presentation
- Recording

DEQ hosted an in-person community listening session with a virtual component on January 30, 2025 at DEQ's Piedmont Regional Office. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit community feedback on strategies and actions for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. There were designated portions of the presentation for attendees to ask questions, with virtual attendees able to submit written questions via the Webex chat feature. Following the presentation and Q&A, DEQ guided in-person attendees through an interactive community discussion and brainstorming activity.
- Presentation
- Recording (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting minutes
DEQ hosted an in-person community listening session with a virtual component on February 5, 2025 at DEQ's Tidewater Regional Office. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit community feedback on strategies and actions for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. There were designated portions of the presentation for attendees to ask questions, with virtual attendees able to submit written questions via the Webex chat feature. Following the presentation and Q&A, DEQ guided in-person attendees through an interactive community discussion and brainstorming activity.
- In-Person Presentation
- Recording (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting minutes
DEQ hosted an in-person community listening session with a virtual component on February 18, 2025 at DEQ's Valley Regional Office. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit community feedback on strategies and actions for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. There were designated portions of the presentation for attendees to ask questions, with virtual attendees able to submit written questions via the Webex chat feature. Following the presentation and Q&A, DEQ guided in-person attendees through an interactive community discussion and brainstorming activity.
- In-Person Presentation
- Recording (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting minutes
DEQ hosted two statewide virtual community listening sessions on February 24, 2025. These sessions provided an opportunity, especially for those who did not attend a listening session at one of DEQ’s regional offices, to engage with the CPRG Team and give their input on the climate planning process. The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. Following the presentation, virtual attendees asked questions, provided feedback, and shared ideas on climate pollution reduction strategies for DEQ to consider in the plan.
- Virtual Presentation
- Recordings: 12PM and 6PM (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting minutes: 12PM and 6PM
DEQ hosted an in-person community listening session with a virtual component on February 26, 2025 at DEQ's Northern Regional Office. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit community feedback on strategies and actions for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. There were designated portions of the presentation for attendees to ask questions, with virtual attendees able to submit written questions via the Webex chat feature. Following the presentation and Q&A, DEQ guided in-person attendees through an interactive community discussion and brainstorming activity.
- In-Person Presentation
- Recording (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting minutes
DEQ hosted an in-person community listening session with a virtual component on March 5, 2025 at DEQ's Blue Ridge Regional Office. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit community feedback on strategies and actions for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. There were designated portions of the presentation for attendees to ask questions, with virtual attendees able to submit written questions via the Webex chat feature. Following the presentation and Q&A, DEQ guided in-person attendees through an interactive community discussion and brainstorming activity.
- In-Person Presentation
- Recording (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting Minutes
DEQ hosted a virtual community listening session for residents served by DEQ's Southwest Regional Office on March 6, 2025. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit community feedback on strategies and actions for DEQ’s development of a statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The listening session began with a presentation by DEQ staff that covered an overview of the CPRG program, a summary of CCAP content and requirements, and an overview of the CCAP engagement process and timeline. There were designated portions of the presentation for attendees to ask questions, with virtual attendees able to submit written questions via the Webex chat feature. Following the presentation and Q&A, DEQ guided in-person attendees through an interactive community discussion and brainstorming activity.
- Virtual Presentation
- Recording (Password: Webinar1)
- Meeting Minutes

Monthly Reports

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)