How to Unlock IRA CPRG Funding for the Drivers and Cyclists Most in Need

This guide by RMI outlines how local and state decision makers can utilize the Inflation Reduction Act's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) to fund clean transportation. It specifically recommends incorporating e-bike subsidies and targeted electric vehicle (EV) incentives for 'superusers' into Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) to maximize competitiveness for EPA funding based on equity and emissions reduction metrics.

• The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides $5 billion to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support climate pollution reduction strategies for local governments, Tribes, air pollution control agencies, and states. The funding is split into $250 million for formula planning grants and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants. To be eligible for implementation awards, strategies must be included in a state's Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP).
• E-bike subsidies and ride-share programs are recommended as high-impact strategies for CPRG applications because they offer a low-cost, 'out of the box' solution for reducing climate pollution without requiring expensive infrastructure. These programs can improve mobility equity and reduce 'criteria air pollutants'—including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter—which can earn bonus points in EPA scoring.
• The document advocates for 'superuser' EV incentives, targeting the top 10% of passenger vehicle drivers in the United States who consume more gasoline than the bottom 72% of drivers. These superusers typically have household incomes under $100,000 and often live in rural areas or small towns. Electrifying a superuser's vehicle is estimated to have roughly five times the carbon reduction impact compared to a non-superuser.

APA

RMI (2024). How to Unlock IRA CPRG Funding for the Drivers and Cyclists Most in Need. https://rmi.org/resources/how-to-unlock-ira-cprg-funding-for-the-drivers-and-cyclists-most-in-need/

Chicago

RMI. How to Unlock IRA CPRG Funding for the Drivers and Cyclists Most in Need. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/how-to-unlock-ira-cprg-funding-for-the-drivers-and-cyclists-most-in-need/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=How to Unlock IRA CPRG Funding for the Drivers and Cyclists Most in Need |date=11 January 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/how-to-unlock-ira-cprg-funding-for-the-drivers-and-cyclists-most-in-need/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024how, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{How to Unlock IRA CPRG Funding for the Drivers and Cyclists Most in Need}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/how-to-unlock-ira-cprg-funding-for-the-drivers-and-cyclists-most-in-need/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }