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Request Board approval to submit a grant application to Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grant requesting up to $199,999,999 for the Waste to Energy program in coordination with the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council Priority Climate Action Plan along with regional partners to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG); and authorize the County Manager to submit Letter of Intent for this grant application. Countywide (Lorie Bailey Brown, Resource Management Director) Requesting Department - Innovation and Strategic Initiatives
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Division:
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Resource Management - Grants Administration
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Authorized By:
Lorie Bailey Brown, Resource Management Director
Contact/Phone Number:
George Woodring/407-665-7168
Background:
The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC) has submitted to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) that allows our region to be able to submit an implementation grant for the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRG). Seminole County will take the lead along with the Kissimmee, Orlando, Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area (KOS MSA) is leading a pioneering Waste-to-Energy program poised to revolutionize biosolid management, mitigate environmental risks, and foster sustainable energy generation. Currently, biosolids generated by wastewater treatment facilities pose significant environmental challenges, being directed towards landfills or land applications. In response, the KOS MSA is spearheading a strategic public-private partnership (P3) aimed at maximizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact.
Through collaboration with a select third-party private entity, the KOS MSA aims to capture methane gas from biosolids and convert it into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). This RNG will be seamlessly integrated into the natural gas pipeline and utilized as compressed natural gas (CNG) for government fleet vehicles. The revenue generated from the sale of RNG and associated Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits will be shared among the participating jurisdictions within the MSA.
By leveraging waste resources for energy production, the KOS MSA not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also establishes a sustainable model for resource management. This comprehensive approach to Waste-to-Energy not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates harmful biosolid contaminants but also creates multiple revenue streams, positioning the region as a trailblazer in sustainable energy innovation. Please see the agenda backup for further details on this application.
The ECFRPC Board has approved Seminole County’s Waste to Energy grant proposal and will be providing a letter of support for the application along with other county and municipal members of the region. Staff will provide a letter of intent for the Chairman to sign before the April 1, 2024 grant submittal deadline. The grant does not have a matching requirement.
Requested Action:
Staff recommends the Board approval to submit a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grant requesting up to $199,999,999 for the Waste to Energy program in coordination with the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council Priority Climate Action Plan along with regional partners to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG); and authorize the County Manager to submit Letter of Intent for this grant application.