“Metroplan acts as a voice of regionalism and has worked as the council of local governments and Metropolitan Planning Organization for central Arkansas since 1955.”

Energy and Environment Innovation Plan

Metroplan is collaborating with state and regional agencies to develop the Arkansas Energy and Environment Innovation (EEI) plan, which will guide investments and incentives to keep the state’s air clean, protect its natural resources, and electrify economic development in Arkansas.

Funding for this plan is provided by a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s Office of Air Quality received a four-year, $3,000,000 CPRG planning grant in Summer 2023. The state subawarded $440,000 each to Metroplan, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC), and the City of Fort Smith to complete regional supplements to the statewide plan for Central Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas, and the Arkansas River Valley.

Information about the statewide plan is available on the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s website.


https://forms.microsoft.com/r/Bm2qe433bJ

MILESTONES    
Central Arkansas EEI Priority Action Plan Regional Supplement submitted to Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment December 1, 2023
Arkansas EEI Priority Action Plan Due to EPA March 1, 2024
$99.9 CPRG Implementation Grant Application Submitted
(joint application between Metroplan, NWARPC, and City of Fort Smith)		 April 1, 2024
CPRG Implementation Grant Announcement Expected Sept/Oct 2024
Central Arkansas EEI Comprehensive Action Plan Regional Supplement Due to Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment February 28, 2025
Arkansas EEI Comprehensive Action Plan Due to EPA July 5, 2025  
EEI Status Report Regional Supplement Due to State March 1, 2027  
Arkansas EEI Status Report Due to EPA July 5, 2027  
 

EEI PRIORITY ACTION PLAN

Based on a combination of public/stakeholder input, data analysis, and competitiveness for implementation funding, Metroplan identified four priority action areas with projects examples under each. See the Central Arkansas EEI PAP Supplement for more details.

 

The statewide Arkansas Energy and Environment Innovation Priority Action Plan (PAP) was submitted to the EPA on March 1, 2024, with Central Arkansas’ PAP Supplement as an appendix. Submission of the state Priority Action Plan was a prerequisite for any Arkansas state or local government agency submitting applications for implementation grants under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act.

EEI IN THE NATURAL STATE: A CPRG IMPLEMENTATION APPLICATION

In March 2024, Metroplan, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, and the City of Fort Smith applied as a coalition for $99.9 million in CPRG implementation funding.

A successful award would target implementation of the following greenhouse gas (GHG) measures:

  1. Green Networks

The coalition proposed to implement projects that sequester carbon and reduce transportation emissions by protecting and restoring natural infrastructure cores and corridors and increasing access to active transportation and transit. The measure focuses on connecting low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs) to jobs, education, and essential services though safe and convenient access to bicycle-pedestrian facilities, e-bike rebates, and natural places.

  1. Transportation Efficiency

The coalition proposed to incentivize conversion of streetlights to more efficient LED technologies, transition of public fleet vehicles to all-electric equivalents, and deployment of public and fleet electric vehicle charging. This measure focuses on reducing fossil-fuel energy use from the transportation system and ensuring equitable access to incentivized infrastructure.

  1. Building Efficiency

The coalition proposed to pilot innovative funding solutions to reduce energy consumption in buildings by establishing a revolving, low-interest loan fund for small and medium Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) projects in LIDAC communities and providing small grants to reduce barriers to taking advantage of the state’s Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) laws. The coalition proposes to fund the construction of a geothermal well field at the Little Rock National Airport and an 850kW DC solar array at a public housing facility in Fort Smith.

 

*CURRENT FOCUS*

EEI COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLAN

Metroplan is in the process of drafting a regional Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) Supplement for submission to the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment.

The CAP Supplement will consist of:

  • Regional greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and projections
  • Regional GHG reduction targets
  • Additional GHG reduction measures with implementation details
    • Program design
    • Review of authority to implement
    • Funding availability
  • Low-income and disadvantaged community (LIDAC) benefits analysis
  • Workforce needs analysis

GIVE YOUR INPUT!

Statewide outreach efforts for the Priority Action Plan (PAP) process included sector-specific and public meetings, a public survey, and an online “idea box”. In addition, Metroplan held a workshop on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 in Little Rock to present information about the plan and gather stakeholder input for the Central Arkansas PAP Supplement.

Additional engagement for the Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) process is anticipated in late summer/early fall 2024 and will be posted on this webpage.

In the meantime, email comments@metroplan.org to sign up for the EEI e-newsletter, and follow us on socials!