$20 Million To Make Our San Gabriel Valley Green

Watershed Health (Photo – watershedhealth.org)

On Thursday, July 25, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced that the GREEN (Green, Resilient, Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) SGV Collaborative has been awarded 20 million dollars to support a healthier, more sustainable San Gabriel Valley.

By News Desk

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – the largest climate investment in United States history, was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022.  This tremendous local investment from the Community Change Grant will help improve conditions in some of the most pollution-burdened communities in the SGV.

The GREEN SGV project is composed of seven climate action and pollution reduction strategies:

1. Tree Planting in parkways and public places and fruit tree giveaways to mitigate the rise in extreme heat and to build community resilience.
   (Project lead by TreePeople).
2. Green Schoolyards with composting, rain gardens, and native plants to reduce methane emissions, capture and clean stormwater, improve biodiversity, and clean the air.
   (Project lead by Sustainable Claremont).
3. Electric Family/Cargo Bike Incentives and Bicycle Repair Stations to reduce vehicle miles traveled and accelerate the adoption of healthy, zero-emission technology.
   (Project lead by ActiveSGV).
4. Clean Casas with rooftop solar, battery storage, cool roofs, and induction stove technology to reduce methane dependence and emissions, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and improve public health.
   (Project lead by GRID Alternatives).
5. Clean Water Refill Stations to reduce single-use plastic water bottle waste and support the use of reusable bottles.
   (Project lead by Day One).
6. Rain Gardens to capture and clean stormwater, reduce flooding, and decrease local reliance on imported water.
   (Project led by ActiveSGV).
7. Multi-Benefit Stormwater Capture on Merced Avenue Greenway to capture and clean stormwater while creating a safe space for active mobility.
   (Project lead by Council for Watershed Health).

Reactions

“The GREEN SGV Collaborative is thrilled to receive federal support to realize healthier, more sustainable communities in the San Gabriel Valley,” said Christy Zamani, Executive Director for Day One, the lead applicant on the project. “Our project is designed to help some of the most pollution-burdened communities in the United States, whose residents deserve a healthier environment.”

David Diaz, a lifelong San Gabriel Valley resident and Executive Director for ActiveSGV, was thrilled by the news. “The EPA’s significant investment in the San Gabriel Valley through the GREEN SGV initiative is a testament to the power of collaborative action and our unwavering dedication to environmental justice and sustainable, community-driven solutions. This comprehensive project will address critical environmental injustices and serve as a model for community-driven climate action across the nation.”

Community partners

The award-winning proposal resulted from months (and years) of collaboration with community partners Day One, Sustainable Claremont, TreePeople, GRID Alternatives, and the Council for Watershed Health. Strategies were selected in response to public requests received over years of local community engagement and a shared commitment to addressing local environmental justice issues, acting locally on climate issues, and supporting priority populations, especially children and older adults. The project is designed to be implemented over 36 months.

> For a full list of projects awarded in the first round of grant making, visit the EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act page.