Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the Narragansett Indian Tribe will receive $6,627,691 in Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda.
The grant will support the Narragansett Indian Tribe's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures Project, which includes energy audits at Tribal buildings to identify priority energy-efficiency measures and install building management systems, solar arrays, and battery storage systems. The project aims to decrease energy demand and reliance on combustible energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yield financial savings, and improve energy resilience.
"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," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "The ambitious projects selected will deploy community-driven solutions to fight climate change and protect public health."
Regional Administrator David W. Cash emphasized respect for Tribal sovereignty: "This investment is a major step forward in cutting climate pollution, saving on energy costs for families, and accelerating the clean energy transition together with our partners."
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse expressed his approval: "This investment...will improve the Tribe's energy infrastructure by upgrading community buildings with more efficient systems." U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner added that the funding would help ensure clean air and lower energy costs at Tribal buildings in Rhode Island.
Chief Sachem Anthony Stanton of the Narragansett Indian Tribe expressed gratitude for the grant: "Grant funds will be utilized to conduct energy audits, solar installation, and battery storage on Tribally-owned buildings... This project will have numerous benefits for the Tribal community."
The EPA has selected 34 applications from 33 Tribal recipients and one territory to implement solutions addressing climate change while advancing environmental justice. The grants are funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.
These projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by over 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050—equivalent to nearly 1.4 million homes' electricity use for one year.
Today's announcement is part of a broader initiative under the nearly $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. In July, EPA allocated $4.3 billion through CPRG Implementation Grants General Competition.
The selected applications target greenhouse gas pollution across six economic sectors with a focus on transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings while promoting workforce development in Indian Country and U.S. territories.
President Biden's Executive Order 14112 emphasizes reforming federal funding programs to better support Tribal Nations' autonomy over federal investments while making funding more accessible.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program also advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative aiming to ensure that disadvantaged communities benefit from federal investments related to climate change and clean energy.
EPA reviewed 110 applications requesting over $1.3 billion before making its selections for this competition cycle.
