EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
09/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2024 12:09
EPA announces $78M in grants to Tribes in Alaska, Pacific Northwest to cut climate pollution, accelerate clean energy transition
EPA announces $78M in grants to Tribes in Alaska, Pacific Northwest to cut climate pollution, accelerate clean energy transition
September 5, 2024
Contact Information
Region 10 Public Affairs Office ([email protected])
EPA selected 34 applications in total to fund projects nationwide to implement community-driven solutions to tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice and accelerate the clean energy transition.
"Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris' leadership, today's investment marks one of the largest climate investments EPA has ever made in communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest," said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller."The ambitious projects selected will deploy community-driven solutions to fight climate change, protect public health, improve air quality, deliver cleaner affordable electricity, and create economic and workforce opportunities across tribal lands."
In EPA's Pacific Northwest Region 10, grant selectees include:
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium($24,232,383)proposed project will install two 1MW wind turbines each with battery storage, plus a 300kw wind-to-heat boiler on Toksook Bay grid. Diesel fuel and heating fuel use will be substantially offset, providing local air quality benefits. Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska($14,999,999) proposed project will establish / expand composting and recycling infrastructure in four tribal communities and the city of Juneau to divert 56,000 tons of organic waste and 3000 tons of recyclables from the landfill. This project will increase beneficial use of organic waste, reduce GHGs.Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island ($14,820,331) proposed project will install 3, 100kW wind turbines, upgrade 3 existing 225kW wind turbines to integrate them into the distribution grid and install 3 MWh of battery energy storage.Nez Perce Tribe ($8,707,461) proposed project will conduct energy audits and energy efficiency improvements at two tribal buildings; install 49 kW solar arrays; replace 68 fleet vehicles with EV / PHEV; install 72 Level II and Level III EV chargers; and plant over 400,000 trees over 5 years.Nisqually Indian Tribe ($5,437,277) proposed project will hire a Climate Resiliency Program Manager to lead implementation; install heat pump systems and a 252 kW solar system at the Tribe's Public Safety Building; add 409 kW solar to three tribal services buildings; install heat pumps in 31 Nisqually rental homes and install solar on 30 Nisqually rental homes; and create a residential energy efficiency incentive program for tribal members living off reservation to install heat pumps and complete weatherization upgrades. Native Village of Eyak($4,942,841) proposed project will construct a new, 70-foot high concrete and steel storage reservoir and add to the existing Humpback Creek Hydroelectric project. This will offset the use of diesel fuel for the delivery of electric energy supply to the Native Village of Eyak and community of Cordova, Alaska.Snoqualmie Indian Tribe ($2,961,556) proposed project will conduct forest restoration treatments in areas within the Ancestral Forest to enhance carbon sequestration; carry out restoration thinning on overstocked stands to mitigate wildfire risk; replant tree seedlings in barren stands; and increase workforce capacity.Village of Solomon in Alaska($2,339,537) proposed project will conduct energy audits for all tribal buildings, plus weatherization improvements and EE measures (such as ductless heat pump installations, upgraded heating boilers, SMART meter installations) for several buildings; conduct energy efficiency education for all households and install solar plus battery storage after energy efficiency measures.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.
Background
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 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 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.