U.S. DOE Broadcasts Funding for Tribal Clear Vitality Tasks

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New Funding Will Assist Tribal Communities Deploy Clear Vitality Know-how, Enhance Vitality Sovereignty and Resiliency, and Decrease Vitality Prices

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) at the moment introduced $25 million in funding to assist clear vitality expertise deployment on Tribal lands. This funding will strengthen Tribal vitality sovereignty by native clear vitality era, whereas rising vitality entry, reliability, and safety. This funding helps the Biden–Harris Administration’s dedication to defending and supporting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination, honoring the federal authorities’s belief and treaty obligations, and making certain Tribal nations have entry to reasonably priced clear vitality expertise.

“Like all Individuals, Tribal communities deserve entry to scrub, dependable, and reasonably priced vitality,” stated U.S. Secretary of Vitality Jennifer M. Granholm. “Many Indian Tribes pay greater than 4 instances the nationwide common on utility payments and a few households would not have electrical energy for mild or refrigeration, which is why the Biden–Harris Administration is working arduous to make sure that Native communities have the assist they should enhance entry to scrub vitality options that can decrease vitality prices and improve vitality sovereignty.”

Via this funding alternative announcement (FOA), DOE is soliciting functions from Indian Tribes, which embody Alaska Native Regional Companies and Village Companies, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Vitality Growth Organizations to:

• Set up clear vitality producing techniques and/or vitality effectivity measures for Tribal buildings.
• Deploy community-scale clear vitality producing techniques or group vitality storage on Tribal lands.
• Set up built-in vitality system(s) for autonomous operation (unbiased of the normal centralized electrical energy grid) to energy a single or a number of important Tribal buildings throughout emergency conditions or for Tribal group resilience.
• Present electrical energy to Tribal buildings, which in any other case can be unelectrified.

This FOA builds on the authorities granted to the DOE Workplace of Indian Vitality below the Vitality Coverage Act of 2005, to speed up the deployment of unpolluted vitality expertise on Tribal lands. Along with the $75 million dedicated to Tribal vitality initiatives chosen in 2023, the Workplace of Indian Vitality has invested over $120 million in Native communities throughout the contiguous 48 states and Alaska since 2010. These investments have resulted in additional than 46 megawatts of recent electrical energy era put in — serving to energy greater than 8,800 Tribal buildings and contributing meaningfully to the President’s Justice40 Initiative to offer 40% of the general advantages of federal clear vitality investments to deprived and underrepresented communities.

Functions are due Could 30, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.

The Workplace of Indian Vitality will host an informational webinar on March 14, 2024, to offer candidates with extra info on the FOA and how one can apply. Extra info on the FOAs may be discovered on the Workplace of Indian Vitality Funding Alternative Change.

The Biden–Harris Administration additionally stays dedicated to working intently with Tribal Nations and Native communities to use for and deploy transformative federal funding alternatives to construct clear vitality futures and, in flip, foster extra financial prosperity. DOE has launched a useful resource information for Tribal governments and nongovernmental companions to navigate, entry, and make the most of funding alternatives. Obtain the complete information.

Be taught extra details about previous funding alternatives and the Workplace of Indian Vitality.