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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office will hold a public meeting on Thursday in Â鶹´«Ã½ to provide information and get feedback on the department’s initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The initiative is part of the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Foothills Higher Education Center, located at 2128 S. Sterling St., Â鶹´«Ã½. North Carolina residents can participate in engagement sessions either virtually or in person.
The purpose of the meeting is to get input on existing community climate strategies and discuss new initiatives’ strategies, projects or project ideas related to greenhouse gas reduction, according to NCDEQ.
As a part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program provides states, local governments, territories and tribes with funds to develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants.
North Carolina was awarded $3 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the planning phase of the pollution reduction. As part of the program requirements, North Carolina developed and submitted a Priority Climate Action Plan in 2024. North Carolina is now developing a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, which is due to the EPA in 2025.
The priority plan identified North Carolina’s highest priority greenhouse gas reduction measures and determined the methods for ensuring equitable implementation of these measures for the benefit of all North Carolinians.
NCDEQ is conducting public engagement and accepting input on how to include any existing community climate strategies or ideas that can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can be reflected in the existing measures prioritized in the plan.Â
People are also invited to discuss new initiatives, strategies, projects or project ideas related to greenhouse gas reduction. Public feedback will help NCDEQ determine the program's direction, priorities and future projects.
A formal public comment period regarding the draft plan will open in August.
Members of the public also can send input via email to cprg@deq.nc.gov with “CPRG Comment” in the subject line, or via voicemail by calling 919-707-8672.
To learn more about the program and view past public information sessions, visit the .
“The longer we wait (to remove timber), the greater the likelihood that a severe wildfire could threaten the Pisgah and our neighboring communities."
