Mountain West tribes secure millions for home electrification
TL/DR –
The U.S. federal government is investing $72 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to help tribal communities electrify homes and invest in clean energy sources like wind and solar power. The funding will be distributed via the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program to 21 tribes, with the largest grant of $10 million going to the Navajo Nation. The Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Wyoming, and the Shoshone Paiute Tribes in Nevada and Idaho are also among the recipients.
US Government Spends $72M to Electrify Tribal Homes with Clean Energy
The US federal government is investing $72 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to electrify tribal communities, stated by the Department of Interior. The intention is to promote the use of clean energy sources like wind and solar power among tribes.
The Tribal Electrification Program led by the Bureau of Indian Affairs will distribute these funds, providing financial and technical aid to 21 tribes. Approximately $26 million, over a third of the total, will target tribes in the Mountain West region.
The Navajo Nation, the US’s largest reservation, will receive one of the most substantial grants. This $10 million grant will help connect homes to the power grid and foster investment in clean energy systems.
“It effectively mitigates the stress of families living without electricity,” says Deenise Becenti of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, highlighting the benefits for the currently 13,000 families in Navajo Nation without electricity.
Additional beneficiaries in the Mountain West include the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico receiving $14.5 million, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Wyoming with $1 million, and the Shoshone Paiute Tribes in Nevada and Idaho securing $525,000.
The Department of Interior anticipates announcing a second round of funding availability this spring.
The article image is licensed under Flickr Creative Commons.
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