The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs (IIJA) established the Carbon Reduction Program, which provides funds for projects designed to reduce transportation emissions, defined as carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from on-road highway sources.
Projects will be evaluated by a taskforce established by the NEMNATP, called the Project Review Taskforce. The Project Review Taskforce will evaluate applications for project readiness before completing a scoring exercise, where projects will be evaluated based on carbon emission reduction estimates and co-benefits, which include equity, safety, access, and health.
SOLICITATION TIMELINE
TA, PROTECT, & CRP will all follow the same Timeline:
- Monday October 5, 2026 – Solicitation Announcement. Open letter of intent period.
- Friday, October 30, 2026 – Deadline for applicants to submit letters of intent.
- Monday, November 30, 2026 – Official start of full application period.
- Friday, January 10, 2027 – Deadline for applicants to submit full applications
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS
In recognition of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program guidance, MnDOT has established the Minnesota Carbon Reduction Strategy (CRS), which identifies eligible CRP projects that support the reduction. The CRS establishes activity categories, which clarify project eligibility. Review the NEMNATP CRP guidance document linked below for additional information regarding activity eligibility:
NEMNATP CRP Solicitation Guidance
GRANT MATERIALS
Materials for the 2026-27 grant solicitation will be made available through this website following the conclusion of the LOI review period. Award decisions will be made and communicated to applicants in the spring of 2027. Letters of intent are due by Friday, October 30, 2026.
NEMNATP Letter of Intent (LOI) Worksheet
RECENT CRP GRANT RECIPIENTS
2026
Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Sawyer-Cloquet Phase 3 Path (Program Year 2029)
The Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will receive $438,744.48 to construct about .5 mile, 8-foot-wide multi-modal path from Woullet Road to Ketola Road, representing a third phase of a project to work towards a safe continuous and connected trail system from Cloquet to Sawyer on the Reservation.
2025
Hibbing Streetlight Replacement (Program Year: 2027)
In coordination with the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission (HPUC), St. Louis County will receive $720,000 in federal funds to replace approximately 500 existing streetlights with Light-Emitting-Diode (LED) to significantly reduce energy usage.
Carlton County CSAH 61 (Program Year: 2028)
Carlton County will receive $600,000 in federal funds to support their planned reconstruction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 61 from the intersection of CSAH 1 to the East County Line.
OTHER MATERIALS & RESOURCES
Minnesota Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) (Excel)
Minnesota Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) Instructions and Tips (PDF)
Carbon Emissions Tool training for partners
CRP Frequently Asked Questions
About the Project Review Taskforce
The NEMNATP Project Review Taskforce is a group comprised of elected officials, government staff, and other stakeholders, which meets to score and rank regional applications for federal funding each February.
Project Review Taskforce members are responsible for reviewing and recommending Transportation Alternatives (TA), Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), and PROTECT projects for NEMNATP approval.
MEMBERSHIP
The NEMNATP Project Review Taskforce consists of sixteen (16) members. Visit the membership page to access a list of current members.
