NEWS ARCHIVE
Tribal Members Turn to the Sun to Generate Electricity at Reservation - July 26, 2010
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in western Nevada is using the sun to generate much of the electricity for its high school, medical clinic, museum and other community buildings.
State takes new look at how much fish is safe to eat - July 25, 2010
Under state law, Washington's lakes, streams, estuaries and nearshore coastal waters only need to be clean enough for residents to safely consume one serving of fish a month. Yet, for many state residents, local fish and shellfish are a much bigger part of their diet than that, whether it's bass caught from the dock of a lake, a dozen oysters served up at a waterfront restaurant or salmon grilled on a backyard barbecue. And for many tribes across Washington, fish are not just central to their diet but a core part of their cultural and spiritual lives as well.
EPA sets Pebble mine listening sessions - July 25, 2010
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson is in Alaska this week to meet with the Pebble Limited Partnership in Anchorage, then travel to Dillingham to hold a listening session with local, economic and tribal groups.
Nez Perce Oppose Oil-Gear Shipments Through Idaho - July 5, 2010
The Nez Perce tribe in north-central Idaho said Friday it doesn't want 200 over-sized loads of oil-field equipment traveling a reservation highway en route to an oil sands project in Canada.
Heralded Pact for Tribal Grass-fed Beef Ends - June 21, 2010
Indians and whites have been doing business together since the time of Columbus -- almost invariably to the Indians' detriment. But the announcement last year that the Northern Arapaho tribe had been tapped to supply organic grass-fed beef to Whole Foods Markets seemed like a win for all concerned: The tribe would make money off its land, the grocery chain would score points for environmental and social responsibility, and consumers would enjoy the health and culinary benefits of eating free-range beef with a Native American pedigree.
Tribes tout Hagerman salmon recovery efforts - June 18, 2010
Salmon have been part of the American Indian story since time immemorial. Chinook, sockeye, chum, pink and Coho salmon and steelhead trout were all once thriving species used for trade, food and spiritual purposes. But then the dams came and the environment changed. Urbanization and deforestation swept through the West and the salmon began to disappear.
Tribal Internship Students Energize Alternative Fuel Science - June 18, 2010
Tribal lands make up only five percent of the United States' total land area, but represent enormous potential for the production of renewable energy. The 55 million acres of land across the nation controlled by Native American tribes can potentially produce an estimated 535 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity from wind power and more than 17 trillion kilowatt-hours from solar energy. These projections are equivalent to more than four times the amount of electricity generated annually in the United States, and represent new economic and employment opportunities for many Native American communities.
Tribes prepare for impacts of climate change - June 16, 2010
"Let's clear up some misconceptions about global climate change," Lara Whitely Binder, of the Climate Impacts Group, told tribal representatives gathered at a climate change adaptation training course.
EPA monitors air-quality near school on Idaho reservation - June 11, 2010
Federal environmental regulators have completed air quality testing around a northcentral Idaho tribal high school that's among 64 U.S. schools being monitored to determine possible health effects on kids.
Cape Wind opponents draw environmental and political parallels to Gulf oil disaster - June 10, 2010
As opponents of a massive wind energy factory in Nantucket Sound watch the impact of energy giant BP's oil blowout on the ocean and delicate ecosystems of the Louisiana coast, they are drawing parallels between the energy projects and warning that another environmental disaster is likely to happen in the waters off Cape Cod.
TOP going Green - May 25, 2010
The EBCI Tribal Operations (TOP) office is going green. They are now offering the monthly Tribal Council packets (agendas) for Budget Council and the regular Tribal Council meeting in electronic format that can be downloaded to a computer. In the past, it has not been uncommon for these packets to number several hundred pieces of paper each.
Onondaga Nation and environmental partners win prestigious EPA award - May 20, 2010
The Onondaga Nation and its environmental partners were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the highest recognition presented to the public.
Chickasaws open CNG station - May 17, 2010
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby was joined by more than 100 tribal officials, citizens, employees and guests in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station Tuesday, May 11. The station is located at the Ada Travel Plaza, 201 Latta Road, in Ada, Okla.
Tribes restore Jocko River watershed in Montana - May 5, 2010
Following a flood in the 1940s, man set about teaching the Jocko River a thing or two.
Senate panel uses Colorado tribe's energy policy as template - May 2, 2010
Federal legislation is being drafted that attempts to replicate some of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's success in energy development on reservations across the country.
Members of Passamaquoddy Tribe Keep LNG Terminal Off Tribal Land - April 28, 2010
The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has canceled the developer's lease of Passamaquoddy tribal land in Maine where the company wanted to build a liquefied natural gas terminal.
Salazar approves Cape Wind - April 28, 2010
America's "energy future" has trumped the most cherished sacred site of the People of the Dawn -- the indigenous Wampanoags who welcomed the first European settler colonists to Turtle Island.
Barona's New Tribal Government Facility Awarded LEEDTM Silver Certification From U.S. Green Building Council - April 21, 2010
The Barona Band of Mission Indians announced today that it has been awarded LEED(TM) Silver level certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its new Tribal Government building. LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, established by the USGBC and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute
Hard scientific weather data meets traditional Inuit knowledge - April 18, 2010
For the last 15 years, the Inuit have reported that Arctic weather has been less stable and more unpredictable. Now, scientists are listening.
Request for Information: HUD Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program--$100 million - April 14, 2010
Application Due: June 5, 2010 (approximate) Eligible Applicants: To be decided On April 8, 2010, HUD published a notification requesting entities interested in applying for the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program to notify HUD of their intent to submit an application. HUD requests that interested organizations call the HUD NOFA Information Center as soon as possible. The NOFA Information Center will ask for your organization name and address, contact name, email, and telephone number. Notification of intent to apply is not a requirement for application, but helps HUD determine staffing requirements for review and evaluation of applicants. Interested entities are encouraged to begin the grants.gov registration process now as the full 5-step process can take 2-4 weeks to complete. For details about grants.gov registration and how to submit notification of intent, please click on the link:
DOE Weatherization Assistance Program--$210 million - April 14, 2010
Application Due: February 15 to August 1, 2010 Eligible Entities: Agencies responsible for administering annual WAP formula allocation DOE requests proposals for Weatherization Formula Grants. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funds are used to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety. WAP assists persons who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly; persons with disabilities; families with children; high residential energy users; and households with high energy burdens. Prime applicant eligibility is restricted to agencies responsible for administering the annual WAP formula allocation. Fifty-eight awards are anticipated. The response due date depends on the fiscal year end of the prime applicant, with range of 2/15/10 -- 8/1/10. For more info, click on the link:
DOL Green Jobs Training Grants--$2 million - April 14, 2010
Application Due: April 26, 2010 Eligible Applicants: Public agencies, state and local workforce investment boards, nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based and neighborhood partnerships On March 29, 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service announced a request for applications for $2 million in green jobs training grants. The grants will be administered through the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) to assist eligible veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing, and networking information in renewable and sustainable energy. The department will give priority to workforce development projects that focus on connecting target populations to career pathways and training programs that will prepare veterans for careers in any of the seven energy efficiency and renewable energy industry categories defined in the Workforce Investment Act. More information is available at: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/vwip/main.htm
DOE State Energy Program Funding--$28 million - April 14, 2010
Application Due: May 24, 2010 Eligible Entities: State energy offices On April 9, 2010, DOE's National Energy Technology Lab released the 2010 State Energy Program Competitive Funding Opportunity Announcement to Strengthen Building Retrofit Markets and Stimulate Energy Efficiency Action. This funding opportunity consists of two areas: 1) Strengthening Building Retrofit Markets: Up to 10 awards of $2M - $5M per state will be made to states that demonstrate a program or strategy that will significantly increase the number of commercial and/or residential building retrofits in their market. 2) Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action Awards: Up to 8 awards will be made, ranging between $250K - $700K per state. These funds will go to state energy offices in states with little to no energy saving activity through energy efficiency programs. For more information on the application process, click on the link:
Advance Notice of Climate Showcase Communities Funding--$10 million - April 14, 2010
Application Due: 45 days from RFP Publication Eligible Applicants: Local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and intertribal consortia. In May or June 2010, EPA is expected to announce a Request for Proposals for the second round of funding for the Climate Showcase Communities program. A total of $10 million will be available for funding for planning, demonstration, and/or implementation projects designed to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of this program is to implement innovative programs, projects, and approaches that demonstrate documentable reductions in greenhouse gases and are replicable elsewhere. For more information about the program, click on the link.
NASA Global Climate Change Education Grants--$8 million - April 14, 2010
Application Due: April 28, 2010 Eligible Entities: State and local governments, tribal government agencies, public school districts NASA's Office of Education is soliciting proposals to increase learning and teaching about climate science. Proposals that integrate NASA's findings about climate change with findings in other disciplines are encouraged. Proposals that offer unique ways of minimizing their carbon footprint in the execution of the proposal are also encouraged. NASA will issue approximately 20 to 25 awards. Funding awards will fall into one of two categories: 1) Using NASA Earth system data, interactive models, and/or simulations to strengthen teaching and learning about global climate change; and 2) Global climate change science research experiences for undergraduate or community college students and pre- or in-service teachers, including those in nontraditional teacher licensure programs. For more info, contact Tamra Ross at tkross@nasaprs.com: Refer to Sol# NNL10ZB1011C.
New report provides tribal energy outlook - April 6, 2010
A new report finds that tribes disproportionately bear negative costs resulting from U.S. energy policy and its aftereffects, yet there is substantial potential on tribal lands to generate clean energy from renewable resources.
Federal task force climate change report parallels Swinomish Tribe report - April 6, 2010
Climate change is now and will continue to affect nearly every aspect of our society and the environment, increasing the severity of floods, droughts, and heat waves, wildfires, and sea level rise, an interim Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force released March 16 states.
Port Gamble Tribe begins environmental assessments in Kingston - April 1, 2010
The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe (PGST), through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will begin environmental assessment activities on the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Lands and areas in the Kingston/Port Gamble Bay vicinity.
Indian tribes can help US ease effects of climate change - report - March 29, 2010
Tribal lands can play a significant role in helping the US meet renewable energy goals, while providing green jobs, income and natural resource protection for economically depressed communities, according to a report by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).
Navajo Activists Win Victory, Open Coal Talks to Public - March 23, 2010
When Navajo activist Anna Frazier heard the news last December, she immediately understood that the seemingly small act was a big deal. For the first time, the Navajo tribal government would open to the public its negotiations with Peabody Energy over its royalty rates for coal extracted at Black Mesa's Kayenta mine. Instead of rubber-stamping another 10-year lease with Peabody, there would be open discussion of the lease agreement that brings millions of dollars to the Navajo Nation and earns many more millions for Peabody, the largest coal mining company in the world.
