Biden-Harris Administration announces grant over $6.6 million to Narragansett Indian Tribe to cut climate pollution and accelerate clean energy transition

Biden-Harris Administration announces grant over $6.6 million to Narragansett Indian Tribe 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

BOSTON (SEPTEMBER 5, 2024) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Narragansett Indian Tribe has been selected to receive $6,627,691 in Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda.

• The Narragansett Indian Tribe's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures Project will support the completion of energy audits at Tribal buildings to identify priority energy-efficiency measures and install building management systems and controls, solar arrays, and battery storage systems. The replicable project will decrease the Tribe's energy demand and use of combustible energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yield financial savings, and improve energy resilience.

"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."

"Respect for Tribal sovereignty is a foundation of our work with Native Tribes. Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris, this investment is a major step forward in cutting climate pollution, saving on energy costs for families and accelerating the clean energy transition together with our partners," said Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "By investing in projects that matter to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, we're supporting solutions to pollution and seizing opportunities that are important to the Tribe."

"I am very pleased to announce new funding for the Narragansett Tribe," said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "This investment, made possible through our Inflation Reduction Act, will improve the Tribe's energy infrastructure by upgrading community buildings with more efficient systems. We are working to save our Tribal neighbors money and reduce the emissions driving climate change."

"Indigenous communities like the Narragansett Indian Tribe have long been stewards of the environment, and this federal funding will help bolster efforts to ensure clean air and lower energy costs at Tribal buildings in Rhode Island," said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner.

On behalf of the Narragansett Indian Tribal Government:

"The Narragansett Indian Tribe (NIT) is excited and thankful to receive the award of $6,627,691 in grant funding to support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grants Tribes and Territories Competition (CPRG) to progress towards the Tribe's goal of decarbonization.

"Grant funds will be utilized to conduct energy audits, solar, and installation of battery storage on Tribally-owned and operating buildings. The grant activities are based on the Tribe's priority measures identified in the Tribe's PCAP. Implementation of the priority measures will result in immediate and significant GHG emissions reductions and have the potential to be replicated beyond Tribal government facilities and deployed across the reservation. This project will equip the NIT with a long-term strategy to expand these opportunities through the implementation of high-impact priority measures.

"This project will have numerous benefits for the Tribal community, significantly improving the quality of life for all Tribal members. These measures will improve the Tribal Lands' resilience to climate change, which has resulted in an increased frequency of extreme weather events in Rhode Island in recent years. The Tribe's must begin to take meaningful action to address the impacts of climate change, and this project will be a critical first step. Additionally, this project will also have health benefits for Tribal members, by reducing levels of criteria air pollutants. Asthma and cancer rates are in the 80-90th percentile on Tribal lands. From an economic perspective, the Tribe is committed to advancing economic opportunities for Tribal members by investing in workforce development opportunities. This project will support paid internships for two students to introduce them to opportunities in the rapidly expanding clean energy sector.

"As a Sovereign Nation, the Tribe looks forward to carry out our efforts to be more energy independent. The Tribe is very thankful for the EPA assistance and commitment to support Tribal Nations," said Chief Sachem Anthony Stanton, Narragansett Indian Tribe.

More information:

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 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 Competition to receive $4.3 billion in funding. In 2023, EPA provided $250 million in planning grants to 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 economy with 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 14112 on 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.