NDN Collective Climate Justice Campaign Issues Memo Concerning Inflation Reduction Act for Tribes and Indigenous Communities

The NDN Collective Climate Justice Campaign has issued an announcement about the large sum of money available to Tribes and Indigenous communities through the Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, to help in achieving climate justice.

The memo, The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Investments for Tribal and Indigenous Communities, offers material to aid Tribes, Indigenous organizations, groups, and individuals to ensure these funds reach our communities. The NDN Collective Climate Justice Campaign has published material so that Tribes and Indigenous Peoples know the following:

• What the IRA is, and what funding opportunities exist.
• What criteria and/or barriers exist to applying for and/or receiving funding – advocating together for more accessibility and equity when it comes to bringing funding into the community.
• They can rely on NDN Collective to provide technical assistance to these groups in taking advantage of the IRA’s programs.

The NDN Collective Climate Justice Campaign will be holding a webinar Friday, December 9, 2022, to share more about the programs outlined in the memo.

The memo also ensures that Tribes and Indigenous communities know the comment periods now open for programs and provisions within the IRA – including the following:

1. EPA Public comment periods and Request for Information: 
   1. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 amended the Clean Air Act to create a new program – the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GHGRF). The GHGRF will deploy $27 billion in competitive grants to mobilize financing for clean energy and climate projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, especially in disadvantaged communities. Funding will be available until September 30, 2024. The EPA will be seeking public comment until December 5th. 
   1. EPA dockets (climate pollution reduction grants, transportation programs, methane fee, funding to measure and reduce air pollution, manufacturing and ghg reporting) all due January 18th, 2023.
      1. Climate Pollution Reduction Grants [60114]
      1. Transportation Programs [60101, 60102]
      1. Methane Emissions Reduction Program [60113]
      1. Funding to Address Air Pollution [60105, 60106]
      1. Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing Act [60109]
      1. Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting [60107, 60111]
2. Department of Energy Request for Information:
   1. Heat pumps due December 2, 2022
3. The Treasury has 3 RFIs on commercial vehicles, carbon capture and hydrogen due December 3, 2022
4. Notice 2022-56PDF requests comments related to the qualified commercial clean vehicles provisions and the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property. 
5. Notice 2022-57PDF requests comments related to the credit for carbon capture. 
6. Notice 2022-58PDF requests comments related to the credit for the production of clean hydrogen and the clean fuel production credit. 

Although the IRA is controversial for frontline communities, it undoubtedly drives historic investments in our communities. The NDN Collective finds it critical that these funds and programs be distributed and implemented equitably to Tribal and Indigenous Peoples and communities.

Here is the full memo released by NDN Collective: