The state’s largest city is forgoing millions of federal grant dollars to reduce emissions.
Sioux Falls is opting out of participation in the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program.
“Over the past few weeks, we’ve met with several regional organizations, communities, and the EPA to strategically and realistically outline if this planning grant is right for the region, as this is a regional and not a municipal grant,” said Holly Meier, sustainability coordinator for the City of Sioux Falls, in a statement.
The city said federal dollars have numerous requirements that take away from the city’s current and planned sustainability efforts.
Because the state declined to enroll in the federal program, it left on the table $3 million dollars to create a plan to reduce emissions. That allowed the state’s two largest municipalities to opt in.
Rapid City directed staff to apply for pollution reduction grants earlier this month.
Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act unlocked billions of dollars for states to implement plans to reduce carbon emissions or absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
“We remain committed to sustainability and conservation as a city and will continue to build upon our existing efforts while prioritizing new projects to help in this space,” Meier said.
City officials point to the 3,000 acres enrolled in riparian buffers for the Big Sioux River watershed, 6 billion of gallons of water conserved since 2003 and the city’s LED street light conversion program.
Meier said the latter has saved the city $200,000 in energy costs annually.
Critics are expressing “profound disappointment” the city turned down what they call a “once-in-a-generation-opportunity.”
Participation in the EPA’s program unlocks access to $4.6 billion to implement the emissions reduction plan.
“The Climate Pollution Reduction Program would have allowed Sioux Falls to further invest in ongoing sustainability efforts like riparian buffers and the street light conversion program,” said Kara Hoving, a spokesperson for SoDak 350, a grassroots climate action group.
Late last year, the City of Sioux Falls revised its sustainability and climate action plan by removing all references to climate change and greenhouse gasses.
Mayor Paul TenHaken said the climate action plan remains the same but removes vernacular that could be considered political.
“Truth of the matter is, we’re doing more than on this topic, than any city in the state on this, right now, TenHaken said on SDPB’s In The Moment. “So, we’re already leading and we will continue to lead. But, we also have to realize there’s a lot of opinions on this topic.”
