U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Financial Advisory Board
Public Meeting Minutes
May 11, 2023
Location: Virtual
Respectfully submitted by Edward H. Chu, EPA Designated Federal Officer
Certified as accurate by Kerry E. O'Neill, Chair, Environmental Financial Advisory Board
NOTE AND DISCLAIMER: The minutes that follow reflect a summary of remarks and conversation during the meeting.
Such ideas, suggestions, and deliberations do not necessarily reflect consensus advice from the Board. Formal advice
and recommendations may be found in the final advisory reports or letters prepared and transmitted to the agency
following the public meetings. Moreover, the Board advises that additional information sources be consulted in
cases where any concern may exist about statistics or any other information contained within the minutes.
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Contents
Purpose 1
Welcome, Member Roll Call, and Review of Agenda 2
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Program 2
EFAB Member Questions and Comments 3
Updates on EFAB Exploratory Workgroups 5
Recap and Wrap-Up 6
Adjourn 6
Appendix 1. Federal Register Announcement 7
Appendix 2. Agenda 9
Appendix 3. EFAB Members 10
Appendix 4. Presentation Slides 14
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 1
Purpose
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Financial Advisory Board (EFAB or Board) is an advisory
committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to provide advice and
recommendations to EPA on creative approaches to funding environmental programs, projects, and
activities. The purpose of the meeting will be for EFAB to receive updates on the Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund.
The meeting was announced in the Federal Register (see appendix 1).
Please see appendix 2 for the agenda and appendix 3 for EFAB member names and affiliations.
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 2
Welcome, Member Roll Call, and Review of Agenda
Edward H. Chu I FAB Designated Federal Officer
Kerry O'Neill I EFAB Chair
Edward H. Chu opened the meeting and shared that, per the Federal Register notice, the Board is not
accepting oral comments. He explained how the public could submit written comments to
efabPepa.gov. No written public comments were received prior to the start of the meeting.
Kerry O'Neill conducted the roll call.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Program
Jahi Wise I Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Acting Director
(Note: See appendix 4 for presentation slides.)
Jahi Wise thanked EFAB members for their feedback on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)
program and said that EPA has received a tremendous number of comments from a wide range of
stakeholders. He said that EFAB's recommendations are evident in the recently released implementation
framework. He noted that the implementation plan was intended to provide initial guidance; it is not
the final version that will be used to solicit applications. For that, EPA will issue a Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO). He urged EFAB members to provide comments as members of the public on the
implementation framework soon, as the period for public comments would close May 12.
Roll Call
Ashley Allen Jones, present
Courtney L. Black, present
Steven J. Bonafonte, present
Angela Montoya Bricmont, present
Matthew T. Brown, present
Stacy Brown, not present
Theodore Chapman, present
Albert Cho, not present
Janet Clements, present
Lori Collins, present
Zachary Davidson, not present
Jeffrey R. Diehl, present
Sonja B. Favors, not present
Phyllis R. Garcia, not present
Eric Hangen, present
Edward Henifin, not present
Barry Hersh, present
Craig Holland, present
Craig A. Hrinkevich, present
Margot Kane, not present
Thomas Karol, present
George W. Kelly, present
Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, present
Cynthia Koehler, present
Colleen Kokas, not present
Joanne V. Landau, not present
Lawrence Lujan, present
MaryAnna H. Peavey, present
Dennis A. Randolph, present
Eric Rothstein, not present
Sanjiv Sinha, present
William Stannard, present
Marilyn Waite, present
David L. Wegner, present
Gwen Yamamoto Lau, not present
David Zimmer, present
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 3
Jahi Wise reviewed key points of the GGRF, including that it is a $27 billion program funded through the
Inflation Reduction Act as an amendment to the Clean Air Act. He said it is comprised of two major
funding streams: a $7 billion bucket for zero-emission technology, and a $20 billion bucket for projects
for disadvantaged communities.
Jahi Wise said the three main objectives of the GGRF program are to reduce emissions of greenhouse
gases and other air pollutants, bring benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities, and
mobilize financing and private capital to stimulate additional deployment.
Jahi Wise then described the structure for the competitions outlined in the implementation framework,
which is conceived as three competitive opportunities: (1) the National Clean Investment Fund (NICF);
(2) the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA); and (3) Solar for All. The NCIF will fund two to
three national nonprofit organizations to partner with private capital providers to catalyze thousands of
clean energy projects across the country. This competition will award about $14 billion total. The CCIA
will award $6 billion to up to seven hub nonprofit organizations to provide awards or technical
assistance to their local communities. Finally, the Solar for All competition will award about $7 billion to
up to 60 states, tribes, municipalities, and eligible nonprofit entities to support those entities in creating
programs that enable low-income households to access low cost, locally generated clean energy.
Jahi Wise said that by law, all funds must be obligated by September 2024. To meet that deadline, EPA
intends to issue the NOFO in early summer 2023, with the window for applications open until fall 2023.
He said EPA could then make awards in the winter, spring, and summer of 2024.
Prior to taking Board member comments, EPA staff Satyam Khanna, Elizabeth Charchenko, Nicole Steele,
and Arianna Menzelos introduced themselves.
EFAB Member Questions and Comments
Kerry O'Neill invited questions and comments from the Board on the NCIF.
Eric Hangen asked whether NCIFawardees can invest in indirect recipients. He asked if there was a way
to encourage grant recipients to invest in a shared technical assistance (TA) platform to help drive
demand; for example, by providing debt instruments to an indirect recipient. Jahi Wise said responding
will require precision; they will make a note of the question and may put out a frequently asked
questions (FAQ) response. Jahi Wise added that, conceptually, EPA expects that awardees will work with
community lenders. Regarding market development, Jahi Wise said he would like to hear more about
what models or pathways EFAB may be able to share.
Lori Collins asked how the NCIF will use tools such as incentives, loan buy-downs, and so on, to attract
private capital. Jahi Wise said EPA is looking for suggestions from EFAB but also from applicants to
propose how they will bring private capital into their projects.
Marilyn Waite recommended that the request for proposal (RFP) clarify the types of TA needed across
the board and noted that there are gaps in the market that may require TA. She said there is a need for
specialized training and ongoing support, particularly for projects that have not yet been brought to
scale, such as solar on condominiums. She also asked whether the funding amounts were finalized. She
said that a powerful leverage is to add $lto a balance sheet of a depository institution, which could lend
out $15-$20. She asked if such a transaction could happen under the current rules. Jahi Wise noted that
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 4
balance sheet capitalization from an EPA award is a technical process that EPA would need to think
through and be precise about that. He said that the NCIF and CCIA are intended to support each other.
Sanjiv Sinha said that clean technology means different things to people and asked if EPA has defined
clean technology and whether it includes urban reforestation efforts. Jahi Wise said the terms have
been defined and that each of the competitions describes qualified projects. Jahi Wise said that projects
that will be funded by the NCIF are defined by principles, and awardees must design investment
frameworks that align with those principles. The CCIA provides a narrower scope of projects that
includes distributive generation and storage, retrofitting buildings, and decarbonizing transportation. He
said the Solar for All program is focused on residential community solar, including storage and upgrades.
Ashley Allen Jones thanked EPA for being responsive to input. She said that in her experience with
women-owned businesses, national investment funds were tightly connected to accelerators. She said
that showcasing projects that came out of accelerators was a successful practice.
Margot Kane asked how EPA plans on looking at NCIF applicants in terms of their ability to reach and
engage underrepresented and low-income communities and complete projects in these communities.
Jahi Wise said that applicants must describe how they intend to bring capital to low-income and
marginalized communities, their accountability mechanisms for engaging these communities, and how
their operations include and reflect these communities. He said that EPA tried to embed accountability
for engagement throughout the various elements of the competition.
David Wegner said that a lesson taken from implementing the Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act (WIFIA) is that there must be a significant effort to collaborate with and educate
communities. He asked how smaller communities and nontraditional recipients of EPA funding will learn
about GGRF funding opportunities. He asked whether target communities will have sufficient TA in time
to apply for some of this funding. Jahi Wise said the program is intentionally designed to address this
challenge by creating a national network of institutions that invest in these communities, including
investments of TAand other resources. He said that GGRF doesn't exist in a vacuum but is a part of the
Administration's larger climate investment. Regarding TA specifically, Jahi Wise mentioned the Thriving
Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) program, which was created specifically to address
the need for community capacity building.
Kerry O'Neill turned the discussion to the CCIA bucket.
Marylin Waite raised the issue of current high interest rates, which she said is killing a lot of clean
energy projects. She encouraged EPA to be flexible and open to creativity. She also recommended
removing the $5 million cap on community lenders.
Eric Hangen supported Marylin Waite's suggestion to lift the $5 million cap. He added that developing
infrastructure to deliver TA nationally would be vastly more efficient than an atomized approach. He
identified organizations using technologies to do remote energy audits and said that investments in TA
for such technologies won't come with small grants. He suggested raising TAfrom 5% to 10% of the
bucket.
Angela Montoya Bricmont asked for EPA's thoughts on the definitions of "community" and "low-income
and disadvantaged communities". She noted that some state definitions are inclusive, and some are not.
Jahi Wise said that EPA provides guidance in the implementation framework. He said the terms are
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 5
defined in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. He said EPA expects known low-income and
disadvantaged communities to be included.
David Wegner asked if EPA is developing measures of success to ensure financial and other program
objectives are achieved. Jahi Wise replied that every competition and transparency and accountability
and reporting framework intends to get that information. Data collected will include greenhouse gas
reduction impacts, air pollution reduction impacts, capital mobilized, equity impacts, and much more.
Jahi Wise said EPA knows the program will be scrutinized and that the agency has a comprehensive set
of reporting metrics in the implementation framework. Kerry O'Neill emphasized the need to
standardize tools and methodologies.
David Zimmer cautioned that at times it will be difficult to get local municipalities to provide timely
financials, especially at the end of the year. He said that, in his experience, some entities are up to two
years late with financial information required annually.
Ed Chu mentioned that the TCTAC awards have been granted and are approximately $10 million per
center. The TCTACs, in partnership with nonprofits, universities, and other groups, will ensure nearly 100
institutions across the country will be funded to provide TA. He said EPA's Office of Air and Radiation
(OAR) is also offering climate pollution reduction grants for decarbonization projects. Ed Chu added that
at least two of the Environmental Finance Centers are co-located with TCTACs.
Updates on EFAB Exploratory Workgroups
Edward Chu I EPA Chief Financial Officer
Ed Chu said that there are no formally approved charges at this point. He said the water system rate
structuring exploratory workgroup has a meeting planned for June 16. Cynthia Koehler clarified that the
exploratory workgroup's interest is broader than rate restructuring and includes state revolving fund
(SRF) funding opportunities to address affordability and equity. She said they are close to sharing a
revised draft of the charge to the exploratory workgroup. Janet Clements clarified that EPA had
narrowed its priorities with the water charges.
Ed Chu said that the next step is for this exploratory workgroup to present a draft proposal of the final
charge that the Board could vote on. He said that the plan is to have a hybrid public meeting in the fall,
so there will have to be a meeting between now and then for the group to decide whether to approve
the charge. He said he will follow up with Cynthia Koehler and Janet Clements to talk about the process.
Kerry O'Neill asked if it would be possible to do a virtual meeting to approve the charges prior to the fall
meeting. Ed Chu said yes. Currently the exploratory workgroup is waiting for EPA's Office of Wastewater
Management to get back to the exploratory workgroup on certain issues.
Ed Chu said that EPA's Office of Science and Technology and Office of Water has another potential
project for EFAB relating to investment tax incentives for water reuse infrastructure. If EFAB is
interested in this, they could form another exploratory workgroup. Kerry O'Neill said EPA is looking for
ideas on how to incentivize water reuse infrastructure. Ed Chu asked members who are interested in
exploring the issue further to raise their hands. Dave Wegner, Dennis Randolph, Janet Clements,
Cynthia, Angela Bricmont, Jeff Diehl, and George Kelly volunteered. Kerry O'Neill asked members who
would be interested in co-chairing the group to reach out to her, Ed Chu, and Tara Johnson.
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 6
Angela Montoya Bricmont moved to form an exploratory workgroup; Sanjiv Sinha seconded the motion.
Kerry O'Neill called for a voice vote. The motion passed. Kerry O'Neill commended the workgroup for
their ongoing hard work and engagement.
Ed Chu then raised the issue of the other exploratory project on environmental funding efficiency for
communities in need. Ed Chu said the three potential clients were the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer; OAR, and the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR). Ed Chu said
these potential clients have been very hard to engage because they are busy.
Gwen Keyes Fleming said having data or lessons learned from the TCTACs, or any models in place, would
be helpful to the exploratory workgroup going forward. Craig Holland reminded members that he's
rolling off the Board in early June. He recommended continuity on the group so that they don't duplicate
efforts.
Ed Chu said that he would invite OAR, OEJECR, and Office of Water to share with the Board how they
structure TA programs, what challenges they face, and what success they're seeing. He said the Office of
Chemical Safety is also focused on providing TA. He said he'd like to have such a meeting before the fall
meeting.
Ed Chu also reported that the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee is not
quite ready to engage EFAB but will likely be ready by July.
Recap and Wrap-Up
Edward H. Chu I FAB Designated Federal Officer
Kerry O'Neill I EFAB Chair
Kerry O'Neill thanked EFAB.
Ed Chu iterated that he thinks there will be at least one additional virtual meeting prior to the fall
meeting. He said they are looking for sites for the public meeting in the fall; the meeting will be held
outside D.C. He thanked the members who are rolling off the Board in June and said there will be a call
for new members later this year, as half the members have terms ending in June 2024.
Ed Chu also expressed his appreciation to the Board for their service and for their recommendations,
which have a positive influence on public policy.
Adjourn
Ed Chu adjourned the meeting.
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 7
Appendix 1. Federal Register Announcement
23420 Federal. Register/Vol. 88, No. 73/Monday, April 17, 2023/Notices
On July 1, 2022, EPA published the
RFS annual rules for 2020, 2021, and
2022. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
Program: RFS Annual Rules, 87 FR
39600 (July 1, 2022) ("2020-2022 RFS
Annual Rule"). On July 20, 2022, CBD
filed a petition tor review olthe 2020—
2022 RtS Annual Rule challenging
whether EPA complied with the
consultation requirements ot ESA
section 7(a)(2). 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2): the
CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7545(d)(2)(B)(ii)fI); and
the APA. 5 U.S.C. 706. On September
27, 2022, CBD filed a motion for
summary vacatur of the 2020-2022 RFS
Annual Rule. Center for Biological
Diversity v. Environmental Protection
Agency, Case No. 22-1164 (D.C. Cir.),
Doc. 1966328.
Under the proposed settlement
agreement, EPA would commit to
complete its ESA section 7(a)
consultation for the RFS rule
subsequent to the 2020-2022 RFS
Annual Rule that EPA proposed on
December 30, 2023. Renewable Fuel
Standard (RFS) Program: Standards for
2023-2025 and Other Changes, 87 FR
80582 (December 30. 2022) ("2023-2025
RFS Set Rule"). If either the Fish and
Wildlife Service or the National Marine
Fisheries Service issues a biological
opinion in connection with this ESA
consultation, EPA would also agree to
issue a determination addressing any
conservation recommendations, terms
and conditions ot any incidental take
statement, and/ui leasonable and
prudent alternatives within the time
frames set forth m that biological
opinion. CBD would agree to dismiss
with prejudice its challenge to the
2020-2022 RFS Annual Rule within five
days of receiving notice from EPA that
it has terminated the ESA section 7(a)
consultation for the 2023-2025 RFS Set.
Rule.
The proposed Settlement Agreement
also include** btandaid language
regarding resolution ot costs and
attorneys tees, stipulation of
extensions, lapses m appropriations,
disputes in implementation,
preservation of Agency discretion, and
the CAA section. 113(g) process.
In accordance with section 113(g) of
the CAA, for a period of thirty (30) days
following the date of publication of this
document, the Agency will accept
written comments relating to the
proposed settlement agreement. EPA or
the Department of Justice may withdraw
or withhold consent to the proposed
settlement agreement if the comments
disclose facts or considerations that
indicate that such consent is
inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or
incon i tent with the requirements of
the CAA.
III. Additional Information About
Commenting on the Proposed
Settlement Agreement
Submit your comments, identified by
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2Q23-
0212, via https://iwm'. regul a lions.go v.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from this docket.
EPA may publish any comment received
to its public docket. Do not submit to
EPA's docket at https://
www.regulations.govany information
you consider to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. EPA will generally not consider
comments or comment contents located
outside of the Drimarv submission (i.e.,
oil the web. cloud, or other tile sharing
system). For additional submission
methods, the lull EPA public comment
policy, information about CBI or
multimedia submissions, and general
guidance on making effi-ctn c
comments please "usit https !/
www rpa goif docket s/commentmg-epa-
dockets. For additional information
about submitting information identified
as CBI, please contact the person listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section ot this document. Note
that written comments containing CBI
and submitted by mail may be delayed
and deliveries or couriers will be
recen i <1 b\ scheduled appointment
only.
if you submit an electronic comment,
EPA recommends that you include your
name, mailing address, and an email
address or other contact information in
the body of your comment. This ensures
that you can be identified as the
submitter of the comment and allows
EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot
read your comment due to technical
difficulties or needs further information
on the substance of your comment. Any
identifying or contact information
provided in the body of a comment will
be included as part of the comment that
is placed in the official public docket
and made available in EPA's electronic
public docket. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment.
Use of the https://
www.regulations.gov website to submit
comments to EPA electronically is
EPA s preferred method tor receiving
comments. The electronic public docket
system is an "anonymous access"
system, which means EPA will not
know your identity, email address, or
other contact information unless you
provide it m the body ot your comment.
Please ensure that your comments are
submitted withm the specitied comment
period. Comments iecei\ed aftei the
clu e ot the comment period will be
maiked late. EPA is not requited to
consider these late comments.
Gautam Srinivasan,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-08070 F£ed 4-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL-10904-01-OW]
Public Environmental Financial
Advisory Board Virtual Meeting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
SUMMARY: The United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announces a public meeting of the
Environmental Financial Advisory
Board (EFAB). The meeting will be
conducted in a virtual format via
webcast. The purpose of the meeting
will be tni the EFAB to receive updates
on tht- Gietnhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Written public comments may be
pnmdf-d m advance. No oral public
comments will be accepted during the
meeting. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for further details.
DATES: The meeting will be held on May
11, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern
Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be
conducted in a virtual format via
webcast only. Information to access the
webcast will be provided upon
registration in advance of each meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara
Johnson, Office of Wastewater
Management, Office of Water,
Environmental Protection Agency;
telephone number: (202) 564—6186;
email address; efah@epa.gov. General
information concerning the EFAB is
available at https://www.epa.gov/
waterfinancecenter/efab.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The EFAB is an EPA
advisory committee chartered under the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2, to provide
advice and recommendations to EPA on
innovative approaches to funding
environmental programs, \ miectb cind
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 8
Federal Register/Vol. 88, No. 73/Monday, April 17, 2023/Notices 23421
activities. Administrative support for
the EFAB is provided by the Water
Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance
Center within EPA's Office of Water,
Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy,,
notice is hereby given that the EFAB
will hold a public meeting via webcast
for the following purpose: Receive
updates on the Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund,
Registration for the Meeting: To
register for the meeting, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/waterfinance
center/efabitmeeting. Interested persons
who wish to attend the meeting via
webcast must register by May 10, 2023.
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
Availability of Meeting Materials:
Meeting materials including the
meeting agenda and bnefmg materials,
will be available on EPA s website at
https://wv/w.epa.gov/waterfinance
center/efab.
Procedures for Providing Public Input:
Public comment for consideration by
EPA's federal advisory committees has a
different purpose from public comment
provided to EPA program offices.
Therefore, the process for submitting
comments to a ledeial advisory
committee is ditk lent from the process
used to submit rummi nts to an EPA
program ottice. Federal advisory
committees provide independent advice
to EPA. Members of the public may
submit comments on. matters being
considered by the EFAB for
consideration as the Board develops its
advice and recommendations to EPA.
Written Statements: Written
statements should be received by May 8,
2023, so that the information can be
made available to the EFAB for its
consideration prior to the meeting.
Written statements should be sent via
email to efab@epa.gov. Members of the
public should be aware that their
personal contact information, if
included in any written comments, may
be posted tn the EFAB website.
Cnpyughti d material will not be posted
without explicit permission of the
copyright holder.
Accessibility: For information on
access or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request
accommodations for a disability, please
register for the meeting and list any
special requirements or
accommodations needed on the
registration form at least 10 business
days prior to the meeting to allow as
much time as possible to process your
request-
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office ofWastewaterManagement,
Office of Water.
[FRDoc, 2023-07971 Filed 4-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[OMB 3080-1270; FR ID 136147]
Information Collection Being Reviewed
by the Federal Communications
Commission
AGENCY: Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
SUMMARY: As pt1s. bin dens and as
ipqunod b\ the Papen\oik R>- durtion
\ct (PRA) (it 1MM3 the Tedeial
Communications Commission (.FCC or
the Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on the
following information collection
Comments requestctmet ining:
whether tb p pi up< 'se d roll ortii m < it
information is m cessan toi the pmper
performanm fit the functions ot the
Commission, including whether the
information shall have practical utility;
the accuracy of the Com mission's
burden estimate; ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; ways to minimize
the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology; and ways to
further reduce the information
collection burden on. small business
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid control
number. No person shall be subject to
any penalty for failing to comply with
a collection of information subject to the
PRA that does not display a valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)
control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should
be suhmittt d on m hefoir Tune 16 2023.
If you anticipate that vu will be
submitting comments but find it
difficult to do so within the period of
time allowed hy this notice, you should
advise the contact listed below as soon
as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@
fcc.gov and to nicole.ongele@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional mfnimation about the
information collection, contact Nicole
Ongele, (202) 418-2991.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OM.B Control Number: 3060-1270.
Title: Protecting National Security
Through FCC Programs.
Form Number: FCC Form 5640.
Type of Reidew: Revision of a
currently-approved collection.
Respondents'.Business or other for
profit entities.
Number of Respondents and
R^pons^s 3 500 respondents; 6,584
responses
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-12
hours.
Fieqin nc\ of Response: Annual,
semiannu d and recordkeeping
icqunements
Obligation to Respond: Mandatory
and let {lined to obtain or retain benefits,
Statuton authority for this information
collection is contained in 47 U.S.C,
1603-1604
Total Annual Burden: 20,236 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $472,500.
Needs and Uses: The
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended i^qunes the "preservation
and ad\ all cement < *f universal service."
47 U S C 2^4lb) The information
collection lequnoments reported under
this collection are the result of the
Commission's actions to promote the
Act's universal service goals.
On November 22, 2019, the
Commission adopted the Protecting
Against National Security Threats to the
Communications Supply Chain Through
FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89,
Report and Order, Order, and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 34 FCC
Red 11423 (2019) {Repoit and Order).
The Report and Order prohibits future
use of Universal Service Fund (USF)
monies to purchase, maintain, improve,
modify, obtain, or otherwise support
any equipment or services produced or
provided by a company that poses a
national security threat to the integrity
of communications networks or the
communications supply chain.
On March 12. 2020. the President
signed into law the Secure and fiusted
Communications \etwoiks Act oi 2019
(Secui'2 Netwoiks Act) Public L
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 9
Appendix 2. Agenda
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Financial Advisory Board
Public Meeting
Virtual Platform
May 11, 2023
1:00-3:00 pm Eastern Time
WELCOME, MEMBER ROLL CALL, AND REVIEW OF AGENDA
• Edward H. Chu - EFAB Designated Federal Officer
• Kerry O'Neill - EFAB Chair
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND PROGRAM
• Jahi Wise - Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Acting Director
EFAB MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
UPDATES ON EFAB EXPLORATORY WORKGROUPS
• Edward H. Chu - EFAB Designated Federal Officer
RECAP AND WRAP-UP
• Edward H. Chu - EFAB Designated Federal Officer
• Kerry O'Neill-EFAB Chair
ADJOURN
1:00 pm
1:05 pm
1:25 pm
2:10 pm
2:40 pm
3:00 pm
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 10
Appendix 3. EFAB Members
Ed Chu, Designated Federal Officer
Tara Johnson, Alternate Designated Federal Officer
NAME
AFFILIATION
LOCATION
PERSPECTIVE
REPRESENTED
CURRENT
TERM
DATE
APPOINTED
Kerry O'Neill,
EFAB Chair
Chief Executive Officer,
Inclusive Prosperity
Capital, Inc.
Stamford,
Connecticut
(EPA Region 1)
Environmental/
Non-
governmental
Organization
July 20, 2021-
June15,2023
July 28, 2020
Ashley Allen Jones
Founder and Chief
Executive Officer, \2
Capital
Washington,
District of Columbia
(EPA Region 3)
Business -
Financial Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Courtney L Black
Deputy Finance
Director, City of Kent
Kent, Washington
(EPA Region 10)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Steven J. Bonafonte
Assistant District
Counsel, The
Metropolitan District
of Hartford
Hartford,
Connecticut
(EPA Region 1)
Legal
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Angela Montoya
Bricmont
Chief Finance Officer,
Denver Water
Denver, Colorado
(EPA Region 8)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Matthew T. Brown
Chief Financial Officer
and EVP, Finance and
Procurement, District
of Columbia Water and
Sewer Authority
Washington,
District of Columbia
(EPA Region 3)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Stacy Brown
President and Chief
Executive Officer,
Freberg
Environmental, Inc.
Denver, Colorado
(EPA Region 8)
Business -
Financial Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Theodore Chapman
Investment Banking
Analyst, Hilltop
Securities, Inc.
Dallas, Texas
(EPA Region 6)
Business -
Financial Services
July 28, 2020-
June15,2023
September 25,
2017
Albert Cho
Senior Vice President,
Chief Strategy and
Digital Officer, Xylem,
Inc.
Washington,
District of Columbia
(EPA Region 3)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Janet Clements
President and
Founder, One Water
Econ
Loveland, Colorado
(EPA Region 8)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Lori Collins
Owner and Principal,
Collins Climate
Consulting
Charlotte, North
Carolina
(EPA Region 4)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Zachary Davidson
Director of
Underwriting,
Ecosystem Investment
Partners
Baltimore,
Maryland
(EPA Region 3)
Business -
Financial Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 11
NAME
AFFILIATION
LOCATION
PERSPECTIVE
REPRESENTED
CURRENT
TERM
DATE
APPOINTED
Jeffrey R. Diehl
Chief Executive Officer,
Rhode Island
Infrastructure Bank
Providence, Rhode
Island
(EPA Region 1)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Sonja B. Favors
Industrial Hazardous
Waste Branch Chief,
Alabama Department
on Environmental
Management
Montgomery,
Alabama
(EPA Region 4)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Phyllis R. Garcia
Treasurer, San Antonio
Water
System
San Antonio, Texas
(EPA Region 6)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Eric Hangen
Senior Research
Fellow, Center for
Impact Finance, Carsey
School of Public Policy,
University of New
Hampshire
Danby, Vermont
(EPA Region 1)
Academic
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Edward Henifin
General Manager
(retired), Hampton
Roads Sanitation
District
Virginia Beach,
Virginia
(EPA Region 3)
State/Local
Government
July 28, 2020-
June15,2023
June 15,2018
Barry Hersh
Clinical Professor and
MSRED Chair, School
of Professional Studies,
New York University
New York, New
York (EPA Region 2)
Academic
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Craig Holland
Senior Director of
Urban Investments,
The Nature
Conservancy
Arlington, Virginia
(EPA Region 3)
Environmental/
Non-
governmental
Organization
July 28, 2020-
June15,2023
September 25,
2017
Craig A. Hrinkevich
Public Finance Team -
New Jersey Managing
Director, Robert W.
Baird & Company, Inc.
Red Bank, New
Jersey
(EPA Region 2)
Business -
Financial Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Margot Kane
Chief Investment
Officer, Spring Point
Partners LLC
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
(EPA Region 3)
Business -
Financial Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Thomas Karol
General Counsel
Federal, National
Association of Mutual
Insurance Companies
Washington,
District of Columbia
(EPA Region 3)
Legal
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
George W. Kelly
Global Client Strategy
Officer,
Earth Recovery
Partners
Denver, Colorado
(EPA Region 8)
Business -
Financial
Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Gwendolyn Keyes
Fleming
Partner, DLA Piper LLP
Washington,
District of Columbia
(EPA Region 3)
Legal
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 12
NAME
AFFILIATION
LOCATION
PERSPECTIVE
REPRESENTED
CURRENT
TERM
DATE
APPOINTED
Cynthia Koehler
Executive Director,
WaterNow Alliance
San Francisco,
California
(EPA Region 9)
Environmental/
Non-
governmental
Organization
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Colleen Kokas
Executive Vice
President,
Environmental Liability
Transfer,
Inc.
Lahaska,
Pennsylvania
(EPA Region 3)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Joanne V. Landau
President and Chief
Investment Officer,
Kurtsam Realty Corp.
Croton-on-Hudson,
New York
(EPA Region 2)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
Lawrence Lujan
Executive Director,
Taos Public
Utility Service
Taos, New Mexico
(EPA Region 6)
Tribal
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
MaryAnna H. Peavey
Grants and Loans
Bureau Supervisory,
Idaho Department
of Environmental
Quality
Boise, Idaho
(EPA Region 10)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Dennis A. Randolph
City Traffic Engineer,
City of Kalamazoo
Public Services
Department
Kalamazoo,
Michigan
(EPA Region 5)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2024
July 28, 2020
Eric Rothstein
Principal, Galardi
Rothstein Group
Montreat, North
Carolina
(EPA Region 4)
Business -
Financial Services
July 28, 2020-
June15,2023
September 25,
2017
Sanjiv Sinha
Chief Sustainability
Officer, Environmental
Consulting &
Technology, Inc.
Ann Arbor,
Michigan
(EPA Region 5)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
William Stannard
Chairman of the Board,
RAFTELIS
Kansas City,
Missouri
(EPA Region 7)
Business -
Financial Services
July 28, 2020-
June15,2023
June 15,2018
Marilyn Waite
Managing Director,
Climate Finance Fund
Washington,
District of Columbia
(EPA Region 3)
Business -
Financial Services
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
David L. Wegner
Senior Consultant on
Water, Climate
Change, and Asset Risk
Assessment, Water
Science and
Technology Board,
National Academy of
Sciences
Tucson, Arizona
(EPA Region 9)
Business -
Industry
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 13
NAME
AFFILIATION
LOCATION
PERSPECTIVE
REPRESENTED
CURRENT
TERM
DATE
APPOINTED
Gwen Yamamoto Lau
Executive Director,
Hawaii Green
Infrastructure Authority
Honolulu, Hawaii
(EPA Region 9)
State/Local
Government
June 21,2022-
June15,2025
June 21, 2022
David Zimmer
Executive Director, New
Jersey Infrastructure
Bank
Lawrenceville, New
Jersey
(EPA Region 2)
State/Local
Government
July 28, 2020-
June15,2023
June 15,2018
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 14
Appendix 4. Presentation Slides
REDUCTION FUND
IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK SUPPORTING PRESENTATION
MAY 2 0 2 3
vvEPA
DISCLAIMER
EPA is not currently accepting applications for this competition. This document—and the related Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund Implementation Framework, released April 19th, 2023—is intended to provide prospective applicants
with information on potential application components and grant requirements, but this description does not supersede
the text in the NOFO that will be posted on Grants.gov pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.204. Prospective applicants should note
that EPA intends to publish the NOFO as early as June 2023 to formally request applications.
This document is a summary of the material in the Implementation Framework document available on EPA.gov/GGRF.
Please refer to the Implementation Framework material for additional information.
2
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 15
vvEPA
GGRF WAS CREATED IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION
ACT AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CLEAN AIR ACT
Overview of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Statute
Fund Name
Eligible Applicants
Use of Funds
LIDAC Requirements
Zero Emissions
Technology
$7.00 billion
General Assistance
& Low-Income and
Disadvantaged
Communities
$19.97 billion
States, Tribal and municipal
governments, and 'eligible recipients'
(defined below)
Eligible recipient defined as:
• A nonprofit that provides capital,
including by leveraging private
capital
Does not take deposits other than
from repayments and other revenue
from using these grant funds
Is funded by public or charitable
contributions
Invests in or finances projects alone
or with investors
Grants, loans, other forms of financial assistance as well as
technical assistance
Funds for low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit
from zero-emissions technologies
Direct investments in qualified projects—which is any project
activity that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other air
pollution in partnership with the private sector or a project which
assists communities in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and other air pollution
Indirect investments through funding and technical assistance to
establish new or support existing public, quasi-public, and nonprofit
entities that provide financial assistance to qualified projects at the
state, local territorial, or Tribal level
100% of funds must ena ble
low-income and
disadvantaged communities
to deploy or benefit from
zero-emission technologies
~40% of funds for financial
and technical assistance in
low-income and
disadvantaged communities
Source: Inflation Reduction Act
THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND (GGRF) HAS
THREE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
oEPA
The three Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program objectives
0
Reduce emissions of greenhouse
gases and other air pollutants
Tackle the climate crisis and protect
public health by supporting the
climate goals of the United States to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50-
52 percent below 2005 levels in 2030
and achieve net-zero emissions by no
later than 2050
Deliver benefits to American
communities—especially low-
income and disadvantaged
communities
Maximize the benefits of GGRF
investments to Americans; every
GGRF competition will align with the
President's Justice40 requirements,
ensuring that 40% of the overall
benefits from a program flow to
disadvantaged communities
Mobilize financing and private
capital to stimulate additional
deployment
Catalyze market transformation by
addressing the barriers to mobilizing
private capital into clean projects in
undercapitalized markets and
facilitating tens of thousands of clean
technology projects that deliver
tangible benefits to millions of
American households
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Environmental Financial Advisory Board Meeting, May 11, 2023 | 16
vvEFW
TO ACHIEVE THESE THREE OBJECTIVES, THE GGRF
PROGRAM WILL RUN THREE GRANT COMPETITIONS
Overview of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund competition structure
/K National Clean Investment
111 Fund
fTTTTS Clean Communities
|^§| Investment Accelerator
/ \ Solar for All
Competition
description
Fund 2-3 national nonprofits to
partner with private capital providers
to deliver financing at scale catalyzing
tens of thousands of clean technology
projects
Fund hub nonprofits to rapidly build
clean financing capacity of networks
of community lenders to finance
pollution-reducing projects in low-
income & disadvantaged communities
Support states, territories, Tribal &
municipal governments, & nonprofits
to expand access to solar for low-
income & disadvantaged communities
by priming markets for investment
Number and type
of grantees
2-3 national nonprofits
2-7 hub nonprofits
Up to 60 states, Tribal & municipal
governments, & eligible non-profit
entities
Funding available
Nearly $14B
$6B
$7B
Expected impacts
Historic public sector investment
with the scale to attract private
capital leverage in clean projects,
supporting the 2030, 2035, & 2050
climate goals of the United States and
catalyzing tens of thousands of clean
technology projects
Robust pipeline of thousands of
community-led clean projects with
meaningful benefits, generated by
hundreds of community lenders
capitalized by GGRF to start or expand
clean lending in underserved
communities
Energy bill savings and energy
resiliency for millions of underserved
American households via states,
Tribal & municipal governments, &
other recipients creating new or
expanding existing low-income solar
programs across the country
5
<>EPA
EPA PLANS TO LAUNCH GGRF COMPETITIONS AS EARLY
AS JUNE 2023, TARGETING MAKING AWARDS IN 2024
Tentative GGRF competition timeline
We are here
April 2023
Implementation
Framework
released
Fall 2023
Applications close
September 2024
Statutory deadline
to obligate funds
2-3-month
application
period
February 2023
Federal Assistance
Listings posted
Summer 2023
Applications open via
NOFOs (Notice of
Funding Opportunity)
Winter, Spring, and Summer 2024
Selections announced and awards made
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