EPA Announces Over $13M in Grants to Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska to Cut Climate Pollution and Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

EPA Announces Over $13M in Grants to Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska to Cut Climate Pollution and Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

Funded by President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, EPA announces 34 selected tribal and territory applications through the competitive Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program

September 5, 2024

LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 5, 2024) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska has been selected to receive $13,196,915 in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, as part of the Biden-Harris administration's Investing in America Agenda.

The Tribe's Energy Sovereignty and Community-Scale Decarbonization Project will help them achieve energy sovereignty and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by installing a microgrid powered by renewable energy sources and providing no-cost installation of air-source heat pumps and electric water heaters for residential households located on Tribal land.

"Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris' leadership, today's investment marks one of the largest climate investments EPA has ever made in tribal and territorial communities. The ambitious projects selected will deploy community-driven solutions to fight climate change and protect public health," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "The tribal and territory leaders selected today will fund innovative projects that improve air quality, deliver cleaner affordable electricity, and create economic and workforce opportunities that can be scaled up and replicated across tribal lands and U.S. territories."

"We are thrilled to announce the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska's selection for over $13 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability,"said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister."By funding the installation of a solar microgrid, electricvehicle chargers, and energy efficiency upgrades, we are not only addressing climate change but also enhancing the quality of life for individual households."

EPA has selected 34 applications to fund projects proposed by 33 Tribal recipients and the Municipality of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to implement community-driven solutions to tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate the clean energy transition.

The grants for the proposed projects, which are funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, will support the implementation of greenhouse gas reduction measures that were identified by tribal and territorial communities. When the estimates provided by all selected applicants are combined, the proposed projects would cumulatively reduce greenhouse gas pollution by over 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050 - equivalent to the carbon dioxide emitted from nearly 1.4 million homes' electricity use for one year.

Today's selections mark the latest phase of investment under this first-of-its kind, nearly $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. In July, EPA announced selected applications from the CPRG Implementation Grants General Competitionto receive $4.3 billion in funding. In 2023, EPA provided $250 million in planning grantsto develop climate action plans.Those plans served as the basis for greenhouse gas reduction measures proposed in the CPRG implementation grant applications.

The selected applications will target greenhouse gas pollution from six sectors of the economywith a particular focus on the transportation, electric power, and commercial and residential buildings sectors, while spurring workforce development and job creation in Indian Country and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Today's investment and ongoing CPRG technical support for planning grant recipients are consistent with President Biden's Executive Order 14112on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination. This Executive Order demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration's respect for tribal sovereignty and its commitment to ushering in the next era of tribal self-determination by directing agencies to reform federal programs for greater autonomy of Tribal Nations over how tribes can invest federal funding. The Executive Order also directs agencies to make federal funding less burdensome and more accessible for Tribal Nations.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program is also advancing President Biden's historic Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

EPA made its Tribes and Territories Competition selections following a review of 110 applications that requested a total of more than $1.3 billion in funding.The Agency expects to award funds under both the Tribes and Territories Competition and the General Competition later this year, once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

• Read the complete list of selected applications.
• Learn moreabout the CPRG program.

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