Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $30 Million to Tribes within Arizona to Cut Climate Pollution, 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
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Hopi Utilities Corporation and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, both located within Arizona, have been selected to receive $20,100,635 and $9,753,810, respectively, in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.
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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.
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The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Go Green Initiative: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures Project, includes measures to electrify fleet vehicles, conduct home energy assessments in a financially disadvantaged area, construct a renewable natural gas plant to deliver converted landfill gas to an existing natural gas pipeline, implement a land buy-back program, and plant 3,000 native trees to create carbon sinks and enhance air quality.
“The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants being unveiled today will deliver unprecedented resources to Tribes here in Arizona for local solutions that can provide national examples for how to transition off of fossil fuels,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “These investments, which deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, will create jobs and reduce the emissions fueling climate change.”
“We’re proud to deliver nearly $30 million to improve air quality and protect Arizona tribal communities from dangerous pollutants – ensuring Arizona remains a healthy and safe place to call home,” said U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ).
As Arizona continues to face the impacts of climate change, these investments in pollution reduction and clean energy infrastructure are critical to protecting our communities and environment,” said U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (AZ). “Arizona’s Tribal communities have long been at the forefront of developing effective solutions to the climate crisis, and I’m proud that Inflation Reduction Act funds will continue to support that important work.
Across the United States, the EPA selected 34 highly competitive applications to fund projects across 31 Tribal Nations, 2 Tribal consortia, and the Commonwealth of 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.
Thanks to funding from the Biden-Harris Administration's historic Inflation Reduction Act, these grants will support the implementation of greenhouse gas reduction measures identified by Tribal and territorial communities. When estimates provided by all selected applicants nationwide are combined, the proposed projects will reduce harmful 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 announcement marks the latest investment under this first-of-its-kind, nearly $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. In July, the EPA announced $4.3 billion for CPRG Implementation Grants General Competition selected applicants. In 2023, the EPA provided $250 million in planning grants, which 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 announcement 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 Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of specific 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 after reviewing 110 applications that requested 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.
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