OLYMPIA, Wash. – Five tribal governments are launching carbon-reduction projects with Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding.
According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the CCA funding was directed through a clean energy grant program offered by the department. Commerce Director Mike Fong highlighted the importance of the CCA, which set the target of a 95% reduction in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to state and tribal leaders.
“We know that there is a history of government assuming it knows best when it comes to what communities need, and we’re intentionally reversing that thought process. We hope this is the first of many funding opportunities that responds directly to what people tell us they need,” Fong said.
$250,000 will be utilized for the construction of a solar installation on the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. Chairman Dustin Klatush contextualized the solar project within the larger policy goals of the CCA.
“This is a great opportunity for the Chehalis Tribe and the Department of Commerce to work together on the common goal of reducing our carbon footprint within Washington state,” Klatush said.
Additional funding to build or workshop solar projects will be implemented by the Cowlitz and Yakima tribes. The Spokane Tribe of Indians will use $90,000 in to evaluate repurposing the uranium mine in Wellpinit as a solar farm.
Additional coverage on the Climate Commitment Act can be found here.
