Tribes in the Mountain West Region Set to Get Millions from the Inflation Reduction Act for Home Electrification

By Better Today On Mar 12, 2024

TL/DR –

The US federal government is investing $72 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to help tribal communities electrify homes, with the aim of these tribes using or investing in clean energy sources like wind and solar power. The funding is distributed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program and will provide support to 21 tribes, with over a third of the funds going to tribes in the Mountain West region. Notably, the Navajo Nation will receive a $10 million grant to connect homes to the electric grid and invest in clean energy systems, providing much-needed assistance to the 13,000 families currently living without electricity.

$72 Million Federal Funding to Electrify Tribal Homes with Clean Energy

The US Department of Interior announced that the federal government is allocating $72 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to assist tribal communities in electrifying homes. The objective is to encourage tribes to utilize or invest in green energy sources like wind and solar power.

This funding, provided via the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program, offers financial and technical assistance to 21 tribes. Around $26 million, more than a third of the total funds, are earmarked for tribes in the Mountain West region.

The Navajo Nation, the largest US reservation, is set to benefit significantly from a $10 million grant. The grant will aid in connecting homes to the electricity grid and fostering investment in clean energy solutions.

Deenise Becenti, spokeswoman for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, stated the funding will assist hundreds of Navajo families, easing the stress of living off-grid. Currently, an estimated 13,000 families across the Navajo Nation face this reality.

In other parts of the Mountain West, the Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico is set to receive $14.5 million, while the Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Wyoming and the Shoshone Paiute Tribes in Nevada and Idaho will receive $1 million and $525,000 respectively.

A second round of funding is expected to be announced in the spring, according to the Department of Interior.

The image used in this article is licensed under Flickr Creative Commons.