The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to kawerak, INC

Kawerak, Inc., a nonprofit tribal consortium, received a $151,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CFDA 66.046) program. The award will fund the development of comprehensive climate action plans for 14 communities representing 15 tribes in the Bering Strait region of northwest Alaska. Key deliverables include a Priority Climate Action Plan, due in March 2024, and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan by the end of the 2-year grant period. The plans will identify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sources, quantify GHG reduction measures, and outline strategies to address the highest priority sectors, such as electric utilities, residential energy, and local transportation. The project aims to build staff capacity, enhance community engagement, improve air quality, and create green jobs in underserved indigenous and rural communities.

To develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan that will support actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and harmful air pollutants. Kawerak, INC. Will develop climate action plans for 14 communities representing 15 tribes. The coalition of tribes being led by kawerak, INC are from the bering strait region in northwest alaska. In general, these communities are very small, remote, and islanded. Most of these communities operate independent microgrid electric utilities and have heating provided by fuel oil and/or cord wood for all residential, commercial, and community facilities. Industry is nearly non-existent and local transportation is very limited. Emissions sectors to be targeted include electric utilities, residential energy, commercial facility energy, community (government) facility energy, and local surface transportation. Activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce climate pollution (i.e., to reduce GHG emissions and/or enhance carbon sinks). Each tribe will create a GHG inventory, identify potential projects to reduce emissions, and develop an analysis of the benefits. Kawerak, INC. And their implementation team will also assist the state of alaska in its development of an accurate and comprehensive GHG inventory by providing community outreach and data collection support. As part of the development of the climate mitigation plans, kawerak, INC. Will also conduct outreach initiatives to engage stakeholders and the public, including working with each individual tribe to conduct outreach and education virtually. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:two key deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the four-year program period, including: a priority climate action plan (pcap), due march 1, 2024, and a comprehensive climate action plan (ccap), due at the end of the grant period. The pcap will include a GHG inventory, quantitative GHG reduction measures, a benefits analysis, and a review of authority to implement activities. The ccap will include an overview of significant GHG sources/sinks and sectors within the bering strait region, near-term and long-term GHG emission reduction goals, and strategies and measures to address the highest priority sectors.#8239; expected outcomes include a pcap and ccap that identifies: tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures and tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced annually. Other expected outcomes include: improved staff capacity to implement policies to address climate change; enhanced community engagement with tribal members on climate change and climate change mitigation; improved ambient air quality; health benefits achieved through improved indoor air quality; reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels; increased public awareness of project and results; and creation of high-quality jobs with an emphasis on workers from underserved populations, specifically indigenous communities, rural communities, and low-income communities. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of and visitors to the bering strait region.