Climate adaptation and mitigation projects

§ 54-1523. Climate adaptation and mitigation projects.

1. The commissioner is authorized to provide on a competitive basis, within amounts appropriated, state assistance payments to a municipality toward the cost of any climate adaptation or mitigation projects. Such projects shall include:

a. the construction of natural resiliency measures, conservation or restoration of riparian areas and tidal marsh migration areas;

b. nature-based solutions such as wetland protections, including mapping and restoration of freshwater wetlands, to address physical climate risk due to sea level rise, and/or storm surges and/or flooding, based on available data predicting the likelihood of future extreme weather events, including hazard risk analysis data if applicable;

c. relocation or retrofit of facilities to address physical climate risk due to sea level rise, and/or storm surges and/or flooding based on available data predicting the likelihood of future extreme weather events, including hazard risk analysis data if applicable;

d. flood risk reduction;

e. greenhouse gas emission reductions outside the power sector;

f. enabling communities to become certified under the climate smart communities program, including by developing natural resources inventories, right sizing of municipal fleets and developing climate adaptation strategies;

g. climate change adaptation planning and supporting studies, including but not limited to vulnerability assessment and risk analysis of municipal drinking water, wastewater, and transportation infrastructure;

h. to establish and implement easily-replicated renewable energy projects, including solar arrays, heat pumps and wind turbines in public low-income housing in suburban, urban and rural areas; and

i. land acquisition, including but not limited to flood mitigation and coastal riparian resiliency; provided, however, no monies shall be expended for acquisition by eminent domain.

2. To the fullest extent practicable, it is the policy of the state to promote an equitable regional distribution of climate adaptation and mitigation projects, consistent with the purpose of this title, taking into account regional differences in climate change risks, socioeconomic conditions and ecological resources.