Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Department of the Interior has revealed a significant investment of $71 million to assist Tribal communities in electrifying their homes. This funding, part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, aims to transition all homes in Indian Country to clean energy sources, aligning with the administration's objective of achieving a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035.
Secretary Haaland expressed the department's commitment to supporting Tribes in enhancing their electricity infrastructure, stating, “As the Interior Department implements this new program, we will continue to support Tribes as they work to develop their electricity infrastructure and help meet our shared clean energy goals.”
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland emphasized the impact of this initiative, highlighting, “Funding from the President’s Investing in America agenda will bring electricity to homes in Tribal communities that have never had it; it will have a fundamental and significant impact on businesses, communities and families.”
The Tribal Electrification Program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to address the unique energy needs of Tribal Nations by providing financial and technical assistance for electrification projects. This includes connecting homes to clean energy sources, transitioning to zero-emissions energy systems, and supporting workforce development opportunities in Indian Country.
Recognizing the disparities in electrification access, the program seeks to bridge the gap in unelectrified Tribal homes. A past report from the Energy Information Administration highlighted that 14 percent of households on Native American reservations lacked electricity, significantly higher than the national average. The Tribal Electrification Program is tailored to meet the specific needs of individual Tribal communities, considering their energy requirements and implementation capacities.
Moreover, this initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct federal investments to disadvantaged communities, including federally recognized Tribal Nations. By prioritizing communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened by pollution, the program contributes to a more equitable distribution of resources.
Through collaborative and community-led planning, the Tribal Electrification Program is set to make a substantial impact on Tribal communities, providing them with reliable energy sources and contributing to the administration's climate goals.
For further details on this program, interested individuals can visit the Bureau of Indian Affairs website.
