Fresno COG received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Protection Reduction Grants (CPRG) program to prepare greenhouse gas reduction plans in the Fresno County region following a two phased approach. The first phase, which was completed earlier this year, involved the preparation of a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP). The second phase, which is currently underway, is the preparation of a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). 

2023: Priority Climate Action Plan Development

During the first phase, Fresno COG developed a PCAP that included a preliminary emissions inventory, identified emission reduction measures, quantified emission reductions from the measures, and created a benefit analysis for affected populations. The Final Priority Climate Action Plan was approved by the Fresno COG Policy Board on February 29, 2024; and was successfully submitted to EPA. Completion of the PCAP was necessary to allow the Fresno region to compete for the EPA’s $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grant funding.

Phase 2: Development of the Fresno County Comprehensive Climate Action Plan

Currently, Fresno COG is in the second phase of this program, which includes the development of the CCAP for Fresno County. As part of development of the CCAP, the Fresno COG will identify and quantify greenhouse gas emissions by sector and develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sources. As part of the development of the CCAP, a refined Fresno County greenhouse gas emissions inventory will be prepared for the following sectors:

• Transportation
• Industry
• Electricity Generation/Use
• Waste/Recycle Management
• Commercial/Residential Buildings
• Agriculture
• Natural and Working Lands

Next, strategies will be identified to reduce emissions from sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Fresno County. An extensive public outreach effort will be conducted to support the development of the CCAP, as input from those who live and work in Fresno County is key in making sure the CCAP reflects the priorities of our communities!

The CCAP will be submitted to EPA mid-2025, and Fresno COG will submit a status report to the EPA mid-2027 to identify the region’s progress.

Get Involved – Your Input is Key in CCAP Development

To this end, Fresno COG is seeking your input on what you are concerned about related to climate change, sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Fresno County, and what strategies you would like to see implemented in your community!

You can visit the Get Involved page to provide feedback, email us, or leave a voicemail at the phone number provided below. 

For the latest on CPRG planning grant award status and the list of recipients, click here: CPRG Planning Grant Award Status (pdf)

Phase 1 of the CPRG program provides flexible support to states, local governments, tribes, and territories regardless of where they are in their climate planning and implementation process. Planning grant recipients are using the funding to design climate action plans that incorporate a variety of measures to reduce GHG emissions from across their economies in six key sectors (electricity generation, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture/natural and working lands, and waste management). All planning grantees must submit the following deliverables to EPA:

1. Priority Climate Action Plan -- due March 1, 2024 (states and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)) and due April 1, 2024 (tribes, tribal consortia, and territories)
2. Comprehensive Climate Action Plan – due two years after planning grant award, or approximately mid-2025, the CCAP is due. The plan should cover greenhouse gas reduction measures across all emissions sources and and all sectors of the region. The CCAP will establish near-term and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. This will build on the PCAP and should add additional require analysis to suport robus implementation.

State and MSA grantees must also submit a Status Report at the end of the 4-year grant period (approximately mid-2027).