Biden, Harris, and the Federal Highway Administration Introduce Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Initiative
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced the launch of the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program, a new initiative aimed at reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. The program, which is part of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, will make available a total of $2 billion for eligible agencies to buy materials that create less pollution.
The program will be implemented using a hybrid approach, with $1.2 billion available through a Request for Applications (RFA) and $800 million available later this year through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt emphasized the importance of encouraging investment in sustainable transportation, stating that the program is an important step towards reducing emissions.
Eligible agencies include State Departments of Transportation, Tribes, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and other agencies. Eligible organizations to apply for the $800 million under the Federal Highway Administration’s Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program include state departments of transportation and other entities involved in transportation infrastructure projects aiming to acquire lower-pollution materials such as steel, concrete, and asphalt.
The program builds on several existing FHWA programs to tackle the climate crisis, including the Pavement Materials Program, Sustainable Pavements Program, Every Day Counts Innovation on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Sustainable Project Delivery, the Climate Challenge on Quantifying Emissions of Sustainable Pavements, and the Carbon Reduction Program.
Funding can be used to develop specifications for low-embodied carbon materials that ensure adequate engineering performance for appropriate use on Federal-aid projects. The program also provides reimbursement and incentive funding for low carbon construction materials and products used in transportation.
The Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants program will provide resources for agencies to implement processes and coordinate with industry to quantify the emissions of construction materials. This will help identify substantially lower carbon materials by comparing emissions to established thresholds.
Deputy U.S. Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg stated that the program will promote American manufacturing and reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also emphasized the program's importance, stating that it is an important step towards reducing emissions.
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government Federal Buy Clean Initiative, the program continues to closely collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency and General Services Administration to implement related low carbon programs. The RFA for states is available on FHWA's Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program Website.
The program aims to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the transportation sector's contribution to climate change. By encouraging the use of lower-carbon materials, the program will help pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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