Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Welcome $536,200 In American Rescue Plan Funds To Develop Jemez Pueblo Energy Independence Study

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are welcoming $536,200 in American Rescue Plan grant funding to the Pueblo of Jemez for a feasibility study for the Tribe’s energy independence. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program.

“I visited the Pueblo of Jemez recently and was greatly impressed with the way the Pueblo is putting the resources from the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Law to work addressing long-term infrastructure needs and embracing new economic opportunities. Building more renewable energy generation projects offers one of the surest paths for the Pueblo to achieve energy sovereignty and create good-paying jobs and major economic benefits in the process,” said Heinrich. 

“In New Mexico and across the country, Tribes and Pueblos have had a long history of being great stewards of our lands,” said Luján. “I’m pleased this funding from the American Rescue Plan will allow the Pueblo of Jemez to research opportunities for energy independence and economic development.”

“This funding will help the Pueblo of Jemez explore innovative ways to become carbon neutral and energy independent, which contribute to tribal sovereignty,” said Leger Fernández. “As Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, I am glad that we were able to secure this important American Rescue Plan investment to develop renewable energy technologies at Tribes, invest in Tribal workforces, and create good-paying jobs at Jemez and in indigenous communities across the country.”

This project will outline Tribal strategies for economic development and job creation, including an analysis of renewable energy generation capacity and workforce development so the Pueblo can identify ways in which it can acquire or build the energy infrastructure necessary to become carbon neutral.

This project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program, which allocates $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding specifically to support the needs of Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities. The program supports these partners to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future. Indigenous communities are also eligible and encouraged to apply under all of EDA’s other programs.