The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced last week nearly $9 million in funding for 15 tribal energy infrastructure projects. This funding through the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs will help Native American and Alaska Native communities harness their vast undeveloped energy resources to reduce or stabilize energy costs, as well as increase energy security and resilience.
These energy projects, valued in total at nearly $25 million, are the result of a competitive funding opportunity announcement (FOA) announced Feb. 16, 2018.
“This funding opportunity was the first time the Office of Indian Energy has solicited fuel- and technology-neutral projects, which expands the potential for tribes to utilize the particular resources they have available on their lands,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. “These new projects exemplify this Administration’s all-of-the-above energy policy and principles of true tribal sovereignty.”
Through these selected projects, the Office of Indian Energy will continue its efforts to maximize the development and deployment of energy solutions in consultation with American Indians and Alaska Natives. Specifically, the projects will install energy systems on tribal buildings and on a community scale for beneficiary tribes and Alaska Native villages. They will provide systems for autonomous operation, thereby increasing community resilience.
In related news, the Office of Indian Energy also recently released the Tribal Energy Atlas—a first-of-its-kind interactive geospatial application that enables tribes to conduct their own analyses of installed energy projects and resource potential on tribal lands. Developed by researchers from DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, it’s the most robust tool ever designed to assist tribal energy project planners, technicians, and investors with analyzing energy options in Indian Country.
For list of projects see original announcement.
