The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently launched its Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program.
The program’s goal is to lower air pollution, specifically greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), through reimbursement and incentive funding for low carbon construction materials and products used in transportation.
“To achieve our goal of addressing climate change, we must encourage investment in more sustainable transportation,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “The use of lower carbon materials, which match the durability of conventional materials while lowering pollution, is one pathway that will help us achieve President Biden’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”
The program will award $2 billion available in grants to state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, tribes, and other agencies to buy materials that create less pollution. Funding also can be used to develop specifications for low-embodied carbon materials for appropriate use on federal-aid projects.
A total of $1.2 billion will be available to states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to fund activities and projects that reduce pollution through the use of low-embodied carbon materials and products.
A total of $800 million will be available to target non-state applicants, including cities, tribes, metropolitan planning organizations, and other agencies to encourage applicants to partner with states where appropriate. Technical assistance will be offered.