EPA Announces Pueblo of Sandia as One of the Selected Applicants for Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program Funding
DALLAS, TEXAS (September 12, 2024)— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Pueblo of Sandia as one of the selected applicants from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Pueblo of Sandia's "Implementing Solutions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions" project will fund the installation of a commercial-scale solar photovoltaic system and electric vehicle charging stations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Sandia Resort and Casino, which is the largest single source of energy consumption on the Pueblo of Sandia.
“Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, this 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.”
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.
This 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. To learn more about the CPRG program, please visit this webpage and for more information on the community change grant, visit this webpage.
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.
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