WWW.ACPA.ORG 9 SUMMER // 2024 CARBON CONCRETE CONSORTIUM Traveling the Road to Carbon Neutrality » What are LCTM grants? The IRA created the LCTM grants program to reimburse and provide incentives to eligible recipients for using construction materials and products on projects that have substantially lower levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with production, use and disposal compared to estimated GHG emissions of similar materials or products, as defined by the EPA. The LCTM Grants Program is an opportunity for DOTs and other qualifying entities to not only reduce carbon but contribute to the improvement of concrete quality overall. A program supported through the LCTM grant can consist of multiple steps that will lead to substantial reduction of embodied carbon over time. » What materials are eligible? Eligible materials are concrete, asphalt, flat glass and steel with “substantially lower” global warming potential (GWP). “Substantially lower” values have been set by the EPA, based on national/regional industry data, and must be demonstrated through an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). » What projects are eligible? Under this program, funds are available to use on construction projects funded under 23 U.S.C., including projects on: » Who can receive a grant? » How do I get started with LCTM applications? LCTM grants involve a two-part application process. State DOTs will be able to apply first, with 90 days to respond. Other eligible entities are able to apply next, with 90 days to respond. There is one application allowed per entity. » What can DOTs expect during the application process? DOTs prepare a plan or program to establish processes to pursue low-embodied GWP. Each agency submits a single application for their entire program, selecting which eligible materials they want to include—RC3 encourages applicants to include concrete. Programs should be broad and include all information needed to adopt LCTM in construction. This may include, but not limited to: » What costs does the grant cover? LCTM program grants cover all extra costs associated with using an eligible material including higher material costs but also costs associated with additional design, specifications, training and/or monitoring as covered in their approved Implementation Process Reports (IPRs), including the cost in developing the IPRs. » Where can I learn more and apply? The National Concrete Pavement Technology Center recently published the Guide for Reducing the Cradle-to-Gate Embodied Carbon Emissions of Paving Concrete, which provides agencies with strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of concrete production, as part of its FHWA Cooperative Agreement: Advancing Concrete Pavement Technology Solutions. Learn more about the publication and access the guide at: https://cptechcenter. org/news/cp-tech-center-publishes-reduced-carbon-guide. The request for applications can be found at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/lowcarbon. » Federal-aid highway » Tribal transportation facility » Federal lands transportation facility » Federal lands access transportation facility » Federal-aid highway » Tribal transportation facility » Federal lands transportation facility » Federal lands access transportation facility » Specification review/modification » Adopting performance-based testing to ensure innovative new materials perform » Benchmarking current GHG emissions to assess improvement » Workforce development » Demonstration projects » Project implementation » Monitoring
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