Contact:  

U.S. EPA: Virva Aryan, aryan.virva@epa.gov  

Spirit Lake Tribe: Joshua Tweeton, JTweeton@spiritlakenation.com 

Fort Totten, N.D. (September 5, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota has been selected to receive a $7,279,786 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.  

The Tribe will use the EPA funds to install new solar arrays and a community solar garden; retrofit existing housing to improve weatherization and energy efficiency of appliances and lighting; purchase electric vans for Tribal Health to transport elders, handicapped, and vulnerable residents; install electric vehicle charging stations; promote waste-prevention and recycling practices for households, commercial and Tribal offices; and install geothermal heat pumps. 

“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. The ambitious projects selected will deploy community-driven solutions to fight climate change and protect public health,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Tribal and territory leaders selected today 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.” 

“EPA is working to provide all communities with opportunities to develop clean energy solutions that best suit their needs,” said Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This grant will allow the Spirit Lake Tribe to complete a variety of projects that will reduce pollution and develop new infrastructure for solar power and electric vehicles.” 

“The Spirit Lake Tribe is very grateful for having the opportunity to be awarded the Climate Pollution Reduction Planning and Implementation grant funding,” said Joshua Tweeton, Environmental Director of the Spirit Lake Tribe. “This has given us an opportunity to sit down and analyze our major greenhouse gas emissions as well as come up with strategies to reduce these sources. With this newly awarded funding we will be able to put the plans and strategies into action. We hope this is only the beginning as we aim to continue to expand our initiatives in creating more energy efficient homes, clean affordable energy, while reducing pollution for future generations. “ 

EPA has selected 34 applications to fund projects proposed by 33 Tribal recipients and the Municipality of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the 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. 

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 Competition to receive $4.3 billion in funding. In 2023, EPA provided $250 million in planning grants to 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 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 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. 

EPA made its Tribes and Territories 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 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.