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11/8/2023

READOUT: Treasurer Chief Malerba Visits the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in Southern California to Discuss Benefits …

READOUT: Treasurer Chief Malerba Visits the Rincon Band of
Luiseño Indians in Southern California to Discuss Benefits of the
Inflation Reduction Act on Tribal Economic Development
November 8, 2023

During the visit, Tribal leadership shared how the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal
investments are spurring Tribal economic development, including in clean energy projects
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – Today, Chief Lynn Malerba, Treasurer of the United States, visited the
Rincon Band of Luiseño Indiansʼ reservation in southern California to learn about the Tribeʼs
clean energy projects and planned uses of tax credits unlocked by the Inflation Reduction Act
(IRA). During the visit, Chief Malerba and Tribal leadership toured sites for the Tribeʼs current
solar plant operations and their planned solar-powered microgrid systems for a fire station,
wastewater treatment plant, resort, and government center, and discussed how IRA tax
credits are supporting clean energy projects. Other participants included Carmen Zucker,
Manager for Indian Tribal Governments at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and
representatives from the Treasury Departmentʼs O ice of Tribal and Native A airs.
The IRA established a new credit delivery mechanism called elective pay (o en referred to as
“direct pay”) that enables Tribal governments to take advantage of clean energy tax credits
for the first time, allowing projects to be built more quickly and a ordably, which will in turn
create good-paying jobs and lower energy costs. The Treasury Department hosted a Tribal
Consultation on this IRA provision and its impact on Tribal communities in July.
The Treasury Department has worked across the Biden-Harris Administration to deploy
historic support to Indian Country, including through leading the implementation of key
components of the IRA and the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The ARP funding includes $20
billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocated to 579 Tribal governments, which
represents the largest-ever single infusion of federal funding into Indian Country. Recently,
the Treasury Department announced the approval of plans for up to $73 million in funding
allocated to 39 Tribal governments under the ARPʼs State Small Business Credit Initiative
(SSBCI) – part of the largest and most expansive one-time investment for Tribal governments
for small business financing in the history of the nation. Additional small business funding for
Tribes under the SSBCI will be announced in the coming months.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1891

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11/8/2023

READOUT: Treasurer Chief Malerba Visits the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in Southern California to Discuss Benefits …

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1891

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