EPA 

News release

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Bluegrass Greensource $30,000 to address home energy efficiency programs in Central Kentucky. Bluegrass Greensource includes Boyle, Lincoln, Garrard and Mercer counties. The grant is among nearly $1.2 million in competitive grants being awarded to 36 local-based community and tribal organizations working to address environmental justice (EJ) issues in their communities. The grants enable these organizations to conduct research, provide education, and develop community-driven solutions to local health and environmental issues in minority, low income and tribal communities overburdened by harmful pollution.

EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) provide critical support to organizations that otherwise lack the funding and resources to address the environmental challenges in their community. The 2017 grants will help organizations in 30 states, including Puerto Rico, to carry out projects that will educate residents about environmental issues that may impact their health, collect data about local environmental conditions, and work collaboratively to address environmental justice challenges in their communities.

Bluegrass Greensource will provide a series of 10 home energy workshops to address air pollution in Central Kentucky communities facing high rates of exposure to both ozone and particulate matter. Increased energy efficiency can result in lower emissions and reduced pollutants that contribute to ozone. How$martKY staff will teach workshop participants how to implement basic energy efficiency measures in their homes, while Bluegrass Greensource will provide energy efficiency information and free energy efficiency kits with materials participants can use in their homes.

The grants support activities that not only address a range of community concerns, but also support activities that educate and empower youth and the next generation of leaders in STEM-related job sectors and environmental stewardship. Specific grant projects will focus on reducing exposure to lead and other water pollutants, developing green infrastructure and sustainable agriculture projects, implementing basic energy efficiency measures in low income households, and increasing overall community resiliency.

In an effort to increase outreach to affected communities in the United States and U.S. Territories, the 2017 EJSG program placed special emphasis on proposals from under-represented States that have been awarded three or fewer EJSGs over the last five years. Of the 36 total projects selected, 23 are from underrepresented states (64%). Final awards will be made upon successful completion of the award application process.