The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Nisqually Indian Tribe $5.4 million under the agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. This grant will fund a major project aimed at implementing key greenhouse gas emission reduction measures within the tribe’s community, with a focus on enhancing commercial and residential buildings.
The program, designed in partnership with Olympia Community Solar, will feature the installation of solar panels and electric heat pumps across various tribal facilities and residences. These upgrades are designed to lower electricity and heating costs, reduce reliance on wood burning and propane, and provide essential cooling to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat events. This strategic program sets forth the Tribe’s commitment to addressing climate change and advancing sustainable practices for the benefit of current and future generations, according to a news release.
“Our ancestors moved with the seasons, meaning they were light on the land, using materials that were a part of the landscape,” Ken Choke, chairman for the Nisqually Tribe, said in the release. “Today, we work with lands allotted from the treaty and do our best to reduce the impacts of our structures with solar panels, heat pumps and other improvements. This not only reduces our greenhouse gas emissions but saves us money. We continue to lead by example with the solar panels already installed on our buildings and we are thankful for this award from EPA to help us continue this work.”
Key benefits of the program include dedicated climate staffing, reduction in propane consumption, expansion of solar capacity, home upgrades, sustainable model development and more. The project plan and application were completed in collaboration with Olympia Community Solar, a nonprofit organization based in Olympia. Olympia Community Solar played a pivotal role in this initiative by creating a greenhouse gas emission inventory and developing the actions proposed in the grant.
