September 11, 2023

MASHPEE – Region 1 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $1,285,120 in climate grants to seven New England tribes for climate mitigation efforts,

The funds are administered via the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program and will aid the development of strategies to reduce climate pollution and build clean energy economies for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, Mohegan Tribe, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Narraganset Indian Tribe, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians in partnership with M’kmaq Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point.

“Congratulations to the seven of our 10 federally-recognized Tribes in New England for receiving almost $1.3 million to develop comprehensive strategies to address climate change, reduce local air pollution, and build clean energy economies in their Tribal Lands,” said David W. Cash, the EPA’s Regional Administrator for New England.

The regional award made up a portion of $25 million in CPRG awards given to tribal nations and consorts throughout the nation using funds made available by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Biden Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, our Tribal Nations will be meaningfully engaged to ensure they benefit from the creation of good jobs, lower energy costs, and cleaner air through the climate pollution mitigation measures planned through these grants,” he added.

EPA hosts webinars on the Community Change Grants and the Environmental and Climate Justice Grants Program. To learn more, visit Inflation Reduction Act Environmental and Climate Justice Program.

A total of $25 million was made available to tribes and tribal consortia across the country. This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies, programs and projects outlined in the CPRG planning grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

On March 1, EPA announced the availability of these funds, which are the first series of climate pollution funding opportunities for states, local governments, territories and Tribes under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act. The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities, and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.

Climate plans will include:

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories.
• Emissions projections and reduction targets.
• Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
• Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
• Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy.
• Future government staffing and budget needs.

More information

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

If you have questions about the CPRG program, please contact your EPA regional representative or email CPRG@epa.gov.

The Community Change Grants are designed to achieve the following objectives:

• Provide holistic investments for communities facing legacy pollution, the acute impacts of climate change, and/or disinvestment to support their multifaceted community-driven projects to catalyze meaningful, lasting positive change on the ground.
• Invest in strong cross-sectoral collaborations with partners that bring a robust history of and commitment to working within communities with environmental and climate justice concerns.
• Embed and reflect community and stakeholder input in the program.
• Provide resources to communities that have experienced disinvestment to unlock access to additional resources for advancing environmental and climate justice goals.
• Prioritize community-driven efforts to deliver progress on their local priorities.
• Deliver technical assistance and capacity-building support to empower communities and strengthen their ability to drive meaningful positive change on the ground.
• Integrate innovative competition features to expedite awards and reduce barriers to accessing federal funding for communities.

The activities to be performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories:

• Climate resiliency and adaptation.
• Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.
• Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation.
• Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure.
• Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.
• Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.
• Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.