In support of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA has awarded $400,000 in grants to communities in six different states. As part of the funding, these communities will expand their use of green infrastructure to reduce the amount of water pollution in their area, as well as increase their resilience to the effects of global warming.
“Investing in green infrastructure pays off for our environment and our
economy. It reduces water pollution and energy consumption. It creates jobs
and boosts local economic activity,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA
administrator. “And these investments help local communities build resilient
systems to protect from severe storms, floods, and other impacts of climate
change.”
Green infrastructure treats rain where it falls, which helps reduce the amount of polluted stormwater that can get into sewer systems. Some examples of green infrastructure include green roofs, rain gardens and harvesting systems, and construction with permeable materials.