Press Releases

Today, Congressman Wiley Nickel (NC-13) announced $421,238,074 in new federal funding for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to combat climate pollution.

“This is a big deal for North Carolina,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel. “I’m very glad the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Coalition has received a $421,238,074 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This federal funding from the Biden-Harris Administration will go a long way in promoting a healthy environment, supporting economic growth, and protecting quality of life for North Carolinians.”

The funding will come from a series of over $4.3 billion in Environmental Protection Agency “Climate Pollution Reduction Grants,” a key piece of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. The grants will help implement community-driven solutions to tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition.

The grant will be distributed among the Atlantic Conservation Coalition, a group including the environmental departments of North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia. North Carolina will focus on the protection and restoration of over 90,000 acres of forests and coastal wetlands.

By 2050, the grant is expected to aid in the reduction of 28 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in North Carolina and 971 million metric tons nationwide. This will aid in the transition to a cleaner economy and ensure a sustainable, healthy future for the nation.