ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribe will soon receive a $7.8 million dollar Climate Pollution Reduction Grant as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a press release that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe was chosen for funding, along with 13 other tribes across the country.
Tribal officials at Rosebud plan to:
(1) Install five EV charging stations with a 500-kilowatt (kW) battery storage capacity powered by 50 kW solar panels and 10 kW of wind energy.
(2) Develop two electric bus routes using three electric buses that will provide a reliable transportation option for low-income and disadvantaged communities.
(3) Reduce transportation costs and improve the community’s access to jobs and educational opportunities.
(4) Improve air quality by reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the transportation sector.
(5) Provide training to Tribal community members in battery, control system, and renewable energy technologies to build a skilled workforce.
(6) serve as a catalyst for the adoption of EVs in the community.
“This is a great opportunity for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe,” said Ivan Crow Eagle, RST Environmental Director. “We are so humbled and grateful for the selection of the Rosebud Sioux Tribes Climate Pollution Reduction Grant application.”
“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.
“These grants offer ways for our Tribal communities to develop new services and improve local health and environmental conditions, while also being a part of progress in developing cleaner energy,” said Regional Administrator KC Becker.
EPA 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 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.
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.
Sicangu News 