Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Resilient Environment Division: Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Memorandum of Agreement between Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Monroe County, and Palm Beach County to establish a collaborative for the purpose of application for a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Carbon Production Reduction Implementation Grant (CPRG), in substantially the form of Exhibit 1; to authorize the County Administrator to approve non-material changes that do not pose additional cost or risk to the County, subject to review and approval by the Office of the County Attorney, and to execute the same; authorize the County Administrator, after review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, to execute future amendments to the Agreement that do not impose additional financial obligations on the County; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement as amended.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of the Motion enables Broward County to collaborate with Miami-Dade County, Monroe County, and Palm Beach County on the EPA CPRG opportunity.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☒Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the County Commission’s Value of Collaborates, “Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and Goal of Resilient Community, “Ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection.”
The Parties to this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA; Exhibit 1) are partners in the four-county Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact (“Compact”), a voluntary collaborative focused on addressing shared climate mitigation and adaptation challenges.
On April 28, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a notice of funding opportunity, requesting proposals for a Phase 1 noncompetitive planning grant for carbon pollution reduction needs and development of a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP). The Parties formed a coalition and developed a course of action and proposal to achieve the goals and objectives of the CPRG Planning Grant.
On August 4, 2023, the EPA awarded a CPRG Planning Grant to the Parties (Miami-Dade County served as the Awardee) to develop a PCAP and Comprehensive Climate Action Plan covering the geographic scope of the Compact region. The PCAP was submitted to the EPA on March 1, 2024.
On September 20, 2023, the EPA posted a notice of funding opportunity, requesting proposals for a Phase 2 implementation grant for carbon pollution reduction needs identified within the PCAP. Broward County, on behalf of the Coalition, submitted a grant proposal on March 29, 2024, that includes a three-pronged approach to address the GHG reduction recommendations of the PCAP (Exhibit 2). First, the Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) will provide home energy retrofits and the necessary and reasonable ancillary repairs needed to enable the retrofits safely and effectively within Low Income/Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs). Second, the Solar Rebate Program (SRP) will provide rebates to offset a portion of upfront solar array installation costs in LIDACs. Third, the EV New Incentives for Charging Equipment Program (EV-NICE Program) will provide rebates to cover a portion of the upfront costs to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in LIDACs. The total funding request is approximately $270,000,000, which, if successful, with be distributed to the parties in accordance with the grant scope of work and final grant award, with Broward County serving as the grant administrator. Broward County’s portion of the 5-year grant award, if funded, is estimated at $77.5 Million, inclusive of program dollars (for rebates and grants) and program staffing.
The Coalition currently expects review and a funding decision by the EPA in late Summer 2024. Prior to any award, the EPA requires the execution of an MOA by all parties. Palm Beach County approved the MOA at its May 7, 2024, meeting. Miami Dade and Monroe counties approved the MOA at their May 11, 2024, and May 15, 2024, meetings, respectively.
This MOA was reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director, Resilient Environment Department, (954) 519-1464.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Approval of the MOA does not fiscally impact the County.