Biden-Harris Administration Announces $300M in Grants to Tribal Nations and a U.S. Territory to Cut Climate Pollution and Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $300M in Grants to Tribal Nations and a U.S. Territory to Cut Climate Pollution and Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

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

September 5, 2024

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.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will announce the selections alongside Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland at an event today in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they will be joined by leadership from the Hopi Tribe. The Hopi Utilities Corporation has been selected to receive over $20 million to help provide renewable and reliable electricity to nearly 900 homes.

"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."

"Through President Biden's Investing in America agenda, our administration continues to make transformational investments to strengthen Indian Country and enable Tribal communities to tackle the existential threat of climate change," said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. "I am grateful to travel with Administrator Regan to showcase the resiliency of Native people and demonstrate the critical need to get resources to Tribal Nations so they can make decisions for their communities. Today's announcement builds on our work at the Interior Department to electrify Tribal homes, upgrade sanitation and irrigation systems on Tribal lands, and invest in climate resilience and adaptation measures that will serve these communities for generations to come."

"Today's grants put Tribes and territories in the driver's seat to develop climate solutions that work for their communities," said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. "These grants will help Tribal Nations and U.S. territories create jobs and opportunity, improve the air quality and health of their communities, and accelerate America's progress toward our climate goals."

The proposed projects will support the implementation of local solutions that address urgent needs identified by Tribal and territorial communities. For example:

• The Hopi Coal to Solar Transition project, proposed by the Hopi Utilities Corporation, will provide renewable electricity to the Hopi Reservation. Combined with other federal investment, this proposed project will supply clean and reliable electricity to homes on the reservation, including electrifying nearly 900 homes without electricity. This application will also improve air quality and boost economic development and workforce training.
• The Municipality of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islandsis modernizing its lighting system, instituting key policy changes and fostering workforce development. The proposed project, Island Sustainability, A Multi-Faceted Approach to Climate Pollution Reduction and Environment Conservation, is expected to reduce electricity consumption and reliance on diesel by approximately 40% at each retrofitted building across the capital city.
• The Kituwah Electrification and Decarbonization Collaborativeproject supports the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The proposed project will include development of a solar microgrid and storage system at the Cherokee Boys Club school bus depot, install solar power at Tribal buildings, and install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the Town of Cherokee to support the widespread adoption of EVs.
• The Decarbonize Lac Vieux Desertproject will support the coalition led by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in partnership with the Midwest Tribal Energy Resource Association to implement energy efficiency assessments and upgrades, including weatherization and heat pumps for low-income Tribal housing units and community Tribal businesses. The proposed project will also install solar arrays on residential and commercial buildings to meet most of their energy needs with renewable energy.
• The Wind Power for Emissions Reductions and Community Resilience in Western Alaska Communitiesproject proposed by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the use of wind power in the Tribal communities of Chevak, Toksook Bay, Tununak, and Nightmute. The proposed project will decrease diesel fuel dependence and heating oil emissions and enhance the health, economy, and well-being of the overburdened rural communities.
• Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township'sselected application, Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township - Distributed Microgrid Phase 1, proposes to fund the first phase of the construction of a community microgrid in the Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township, including the installation of solar photovoltaic systems with battery backup and load management at residential and municipal buildings.

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.

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.