National  Tribal  Air  Association   

Beginning in 2009, the EPA launched a competitive grant program to assist tribal and local governments in establishing and implementing climate change initiatives. The goal of the Climate Showcase Communities grant program is to create replicable models of sustainable community action that generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions while improving the environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in communities.

On February 25, 2010, the EPA announced that $7.8 million in grants will be awarded to communities to develop and implement these projects.  It is estimated these projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 135,000 metric tons. This decrease is equal to the emission produced by 12,000 residential homes or 25,000 passenger vehicles.

Over the next months, an additional $2.2 million is expected to be awarded to tribal and local governments. Currently there are 20 Climate Showcase Communities, two of which are tribal community projects:

Energy Efficiency and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the Northern Cheyenne Tribe Reservation

An additional $10 million in funding for this program will become available in late spring 2010. If any tribes wish to receive notification when more funding is available, you may sign up for EPA listserv notification of opportunities at: http://epa.gov/statelocalclimate/listservs/index.html