Warm Springs will use federal funds to develop community resilience centers for tribal members during extreme heat, cold

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Val Hoyle announced Wednesday that Oregon’s Energy Department has secured $10.9 million and four Tribes with members in the state have earned a combined $1.16 million in federal investment to modernize the electric grid and reduce the impacts of extreme weather while also ensuring power sector reliability.

The four Tribes securing the federal funds are the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Burns Paiute and Nez Perce.

“Oregon families, small businesses, schools, hospitals and more rely on a dependable energy grid, said Wyden, who also has introduced the Grid Resilience Improvement through Dedicated (GRID) Assistance Act. “These fresh federal investments in grid resilience are incredibly timely after this year’s state record of nearly 2 million acres burned by wildfires. I’m gratified these resources are heading to these Tribes along with the state Energy Department, and will keep battling for similar funds for communities throughout the state.”

“As devastating wildfires, droughts, and intense winter storms continue to grip Oregon, we must invest in strengthening our power grids to safeguard Oregon families and businesses,” Merkley said. “It is great news that these federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are heading to the Oregon Department of Energy and Tribes to make these critical improvements that will make all the difference for communities across Oregon when disasters strike.”

“Our communities need an electric grid that can withstand the increasingly severe impacts of the climate crisis. Thanks to Democrats in Congress, Oregon and Tribal nations are receiving the investments necessary build this reality with a smarter, more resilient power grid,” said Blumenauer.

"As this season's record-breaking wildfire season showed, extreme weather, caused by the climate crisis, is becoming increasingly common across Oregon," Hoyle said. "These funds will help to fortify our energy infrastructure against extreme weather and improve its dependability across the state and in Tribal communities. I'll continue working with federal and state partners to ensure Oregon's electric grid is safe and resilient."

The federal money for the state Energy Department and four Tribes is part of a combined total of $473.6 million nationally in fiscal year 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. The resources will be distributed as follows:

·       Oregon Department of Energy, $10.9 million 

·       Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, $454,958

·       Nez Perce Tribe, $290,877

·       Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribes of Indians, $268,172

·       Burns Paiute Tribe, $148,901

"The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs is thankful for the federal government’s financial investment in our ability to protect our communities from extreme weather situations,” said Jonathan W. Smith, Sr., Chairman, Tribal Council for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. “These funds will allow us to develop community resilience centers on our reservation for our tribal members to seek refuge during unbearably hot and cold weather patterns."

“The Burns-Paiute tribe has identified energy security and resilience as a key priority,” said Tracy Kennedy, Chair of the Burns-Paiute Tribe. “We appreciate the support from Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley in helping us get funding to achieve our goals.” 

“For the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, we aim to use these generous funds to improve the reliability of delivering power, water and utility services provided by our own Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative to the many Cow Creek Umpqua Tribally-owned properties, our Tribal citizens, and our community members in Canyonville,” said Carla Keene, Chairman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. “This grant allows us to exercise our sovereign rights, strengthen the resilience of our system, and put us closer to achieving one of our long-term goals of energy independence.”– 

“The Nez Perce Tribe is committed to helping the Northwest meet its energy needs in a cleaner and smarter way that will address the impacts of current energy demands on salmon restoration,” said Shannon F. Wheeler, Chairman, Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee. “These funds are an important component of this collaborative work with energy utilities and other stakeholders in the Northwest and we are excited that these funds will allow us to continue to do this work.”