Pilar Thomas Weighs in Regarding Impact of Inflation Reduction Act on Tribal Communities in National Law Review Article
The recently signed Inflation Reduction Act includes several provisions for Native communities and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Quarles & Brady partner Pilar Thomas shared insight on its significance for tribal communities in an article by The National Law Review.
Thomas, a Tucson-based member of the Energy, Infrastructure & Environment Practice Group who focuses on a variety of tribal law matters, highlighted some of the areas impacted by the new legislation and its likely impact in this excerpt from the article:
Pilar Thomas, Partner in Quarles & Brady’s Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group, expanded on the most significant inclusions for Tribes: “[...] the creation of a Direct Pay tax credit payment program that allows Tribes to receive a payment equal to the clean energy technology tax credits - especially for solar, wind, storage, geothermal and EV charging stations; [...] direct funding for electrification and climate resiliency through DOI and USDA; [...] access to the greenhouse gas reduction fund, environmental and climate justice grants; and expanded energy efficiency tax benefits and rebates for tribes and tribal members.”
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“This legislation will result in hundreds of millions of funding available for Tribes, and non-profits that work with tribes and tribal communities to support the clean energy transition for tribal communities, reduce energy costs for tribal members, and create jobs,” said Ms. Thomas of Quarles & Brady. “The IRA will provide a substantial down payment for every tribe to take advantage of clean energy technologies, energy efficiency and energy savings, and climate resilient solutions for their communities and tribal members individually. The new projects, technology implementation and economic development opportunities are substantial and will create long term community and economic development sustainable improvements in tribal communities.”