Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $5 Million to Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota to Cut Climate Pollution and Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $5 Million to Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota 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

The Lower Sioux Indian Community will use their grant to conduct energy audits and weatherization, including use of hemp-based insulation, for 30 Tribal residences. They will also install cold climate air source heat pumps in 70 residences and establish a $250,000 energy efficiency improvement fund to implement energy efficiency projects in Tribally managed buildings.

"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 selected applications 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."

"When it comes to reducing energy use and protecting the environment, the path forward often comes through community driven solutions," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. "This is particularlytrue of Tribal Nations, who have long worked at the forefront of these issues. EPA is proud to support their work and partner with them on critical projects to restore ecosystems and reduce energy use."

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 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. The 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 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.

See the complete list of selected applications.

Learn about the CPRG program.