The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, under the leadership of Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, is the only federally recognized tribe in the State of Mississippi. With over 11,000 members, Choctaw lands cover over 35,000 acres in 10 counties. The tribe provides permanent, full-time jobs for over 5,000 Tribal Members and non-Indian employees and is a major contributor to the state’s economy.
To continue to provide growth opportunities for tribal members, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians seeks grants to fund various programs. These range from a Tribal Scholarship Program that provides scholarships to eligible tribal members who want to pursue higher education to a grant to build a new workforce training center. The latest is going to help reduce, remove, and reuse to better impact the environment.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle recently visited the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to join Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben for a press event to highlight the award of a $7.7 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). This grant will foster the implementation of projects emphasizing sustainable energy while also lowering energy costs for some Tribal members, especially the elderly.
“I first want to thank the EPA for this award and our Office of Environmental Protection for writing this grant that will now positively impact their program and the homes of some of our Tribal Elders,” said Chief Ben. “The grant consists of four main projects which will contribute directly to greenhouse gas reductions through their specific actions.”
With approximately 11,000 Tribal members and 2,300 residential units spread across Choctaw Tribal lands, these projects will directly impact more than 300 homes belonging to Tribal elders and disabled individuals, who face heightened risks during power outages. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians CPRG Implementation Grant will support four greenhouse gas reduction measures to deliver substantial environmental, economic, and health benefits.
Specific efforts will include installing solar heat pumps, upgrading appliances, enhancing biodiesel production, and improving recycling capabilities and efficiency.
Project Highlights:
Energy Efficient Improvements: Solar Direct Heat Pumps
Installing solar-driven heat pumps in residential homes will provide much-needed cooling during the sweltering Mississippi summers while lowering electricity costs. The project aims to install solar-powered supplemental heat pumps in 300 homes over five years, resulting in a projected GHG reduction of 8,599 MT CO2e by 2050.
Home Appliance Efficiency
This initiative will replace outdated and non-electric appliances with energy-efficient electric models, first targeting at-risk households. The project anticipates reducing GHG emissions by 13,129 MT CO2e by 2050.
Enhancement and Expansion of Recycling Capabilities
MBCI plans to upgrade its recycling operations by acquiring new equipment, significantly improving efficiency, and reducing the GHG emissions associated with waste collection. This project is expected to result in a reduction of 250 MT CO2e by 2050.
Biofuel Infrastructure for Improved Production and Efficiency of Distribution
The revitalization of the Choctaw Biodiesel program will focus on collecting and processing waste oil to create a cleaner fuel alternative. This initiative is projected to yield a GHG reduction of 19,434 MT CO2e by 2050.
“We are excited to announce the award of this Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians,” said Gettle. “The projects funded by this grant will bring substantial environmental, economic, and health benefits to the Tribe and set a powerful example for communities across the nation.”
