Office of Indian Energy Updates
Notice of Intent: $5 Million for TCU Clean Energy Planning
 On Aug. 5, the Office of Indian Energy issued two Notices of Intent (NOIs) to release a combined $30 million in Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) later this summer.
The first NOI will support Tribal clean energy planning and development, and the second NOI will support TCUs planning to transition to clean energy.
TCUs Planning for Clean Energy Transition NOI (DE-FOA-0003402)
This planned FOA intends to provide financial support to TCUs to plan the transition of their campuses to clean energy. The Office of Indian Energy will only consider applications from TCUs. Applications from a consortium of TCUs will be accepted but must be submitted by a single TCU acting as the applicant and representing the consortium.
Under the planned FOA, the Office of Indian Energy anticipates making approximately $5 million available with awards that range from $100,000 to $250,000 for planning grants. No recipient cost share is anticipated under the planned FOA.
Download the NOI (DE-FOA-3402) for Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy Transition – 2025.
DOE Selects 10 Innovator Fellows To Support Tribal Entities in Clean Energy Development
Congratulations to the newly selected 2024 Class of the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship!
 Today, DOE announced that 68 fellows have been selected to spend up to two years at critical energy organizations including 10 Tribal entities, 6 electric cooperatives, 13 municipal utilities, 12 state utility commissions, 26 state energy offices, and 1 grid operator.
Fellows will be on the frontlines of where federal investment in clean energy is transforming communities, filling gaps in capacity so organizations can get the job done faster.
This year, the Office of Indian Energy funded additional opportunities to place fellows with Tribal entities and supported program promotion and fellow recruitment.
Tribal entities hosting fellows for the 2024 Class:
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Knik Tribe
- Navajo Nation Government—Minerals Department
- Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California
- Coeur d'Alene Tribe
- Nez Perce Tribe
- Cherokee Nation's Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
- RESCo— Rosebud Sioux Tribe utility
- The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
DOE provides fellows with a competitive stipend to support their full-time participation in the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program and an allowance for education and professional development opportunities.
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Are you interested in a paid position supporting Tribal clean energy development? If so, see additional fellowship opportunities below.
News and Resources
Apply Today! DOE Seeking Full-Time Community Energy Fellows To Support Tribal Clean Energy
Fellow applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis until positions are filled.
 Apply today for the 18-month, full-time DOE Community Energy Fellowship! Community Energy Fellows are placed in local and Tribal governments to support clean energy plans and projects.
Fellows should bring a strong interest in clean and equitable energy solutions, particularly for environmental justice and disadvantaged communities.
Tribes currently seeking a fellow are:
- Colusa Indian Community in California
- Qawalangin Tribe of Unlaska
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Learn more and apply today!
Register Now for the 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition!
 Registration is now open through Oct. 7 for DOE’s 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition.
The Geothermal Collegiate Competition is an annual challenge in which teams of three or more collegiate students develop real-world, sustainable geothermal solutions, work directly in communities, gain experience in the renewable energy industry, and compete for cash prizes. Previous experience with geothermal topics is not required.
Follow the challenge on HeroX, set up your account, and have one team member complete the registration form by clicking “Solve the Challenge.” Then, check out the official rules to start planning your project.
The 2024 competition will have two tracks—Technical and Policy—focused on different aspects of implementing geothermal heating and cooling systems.
To learn more:
DOE Selects Two Winners in Prize To Train Workers for Skilled Jobs in Solar Manufacturing Workforce
 DOE announced the winners in the first round of the Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce. The two selected teams will receive up to $500,000 each to implement comprehensive workforce training plans, aiming to support high-quality employment prospects and skillsets that can be used for career growth and various opportunities within the solar manufacturing industry.
DOE also opened a second round of the prize for new applicants.
The Round 1 winners are:
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Louisiana First Solar Force: This project is a collaboration between the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and First Solar to establish a semiconductor technical training center focused on thin-film solar processes to support the workforce at First Solar’s new Louisiana facility. The training center will be located at University of Louisiana at Lafayette Research Park and provide training for operators, technicians, engineers, data scientists, and managers.
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Training in Solar Manufacturing: Crossroads Solar Enterprises and the Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership are partnering to offer solar manufacturing training to returning citizens. The training will support both new and incumbent workers at Crossroads Solar on topics including equipment maintenance and quality management. Employees will also receive a certificate from Purdue after completing training.
Round 2 contestants should submit applications by Nov. 20. Winning teams will receive up to $500,000 each for their submissions. View the official rules and sign up to compete.
DOE and National Science Foundation Announce Second Intern Cohort to Support Growth of the Geothermal Energy Workforce
 On Aug. 19, DOE and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the second cohort of geothermal interns in the NSF INTERN program. Through this collaboration, a diverse group of 24 students will work with geothermal companies, national laboratories, or state agencies on projects that advance geothermal technologies.
Work conducted under this internship program will support the goals of DOE’s Enhanced Geothermal Shot™, which aims to bring enhanced geothermal systems to Americans nationwide and reduce the cost by 90% by 2035 and will also advance low-temperature geothermal applications like district-scale heating and cooling.
View the awarded institutions and participants' host organizations and projects on the full announcement.
New: Alaska Embedded Fellowship with the DOE Water Power Technologies Office
DOE is now accepting applications for a new fellowship to work on water-power topics in either Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska. The fellowship will include engaging in both marine (tidal and riverine hydrokinetic) technologies, as well as conventional hydropower.
Applications for this opportunity will be accepted on a rolling basis until the role is filled.
Funding Opportunities
Stay up to date on the latest clean energy funding opportunities for tribes and tribal entities on the Office of Indian Energy Current Funding Opportunities page.
 Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize
$3.4 million
Apply by Jan. 31.
This prize is designed to encourage building coalitions in communities across the country that focus on creating quality jobs and fostering an equitable and inclusive workforce in clean energy sectors. Gather your team of labor organizations, clean energy employers, community-based organizations, public agencies, and education and workforce providers, and apply for Phase One by Jan. 31, 2025.
Events
View additional upcoming events and funding deadlines on the DOE STEM Opportunities calendar.
Leveraging Extension and University Engagement: Developing and Implementing Novel Projects Using Transdisciplinary Approaches
📅 Sept. 9 | 1 p.m. ET
Join USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture for a webinar looking at how Land-grant University administration can support faculty and staff in adopting transdisciplinary approaches and leverage the power of engagement.
Hear from top University administrators about challenges and opportunities in this work, and discuss how to navigate multifaceted projects that support inclusivity and diverse perspectives to address the complex challenges facing food and agricultural systems today.
Solar Decathlon 2025 Design Challenge Kickoff Webinar
📅 Sept. 10 | 12 p.m. ET
The Solar Decathlon Design Challenge is an annual collegiate competition in which interdisciplinary teams create sustainable, high-performance building designs that address real-world issues such as existing building retrofits, community impacts, affordability, and resilience.
Teams collaborate on a residential or commercial design project for one or two academic semesters, with the competition culminating each April at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event.
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The team registration deadline is Oct. 23.
Geothermal Collegiate Competition—Informational Webinar
📅 Sept. 12 | 12 p.m. ET
The Geothermal Collegiate Competition is an annual challenge in which teams of three or more collegiate students develop real-world, sustainable geothermal solutions, work directly in communities, gain experience in the renewable energy industry, and compete for cash prizes. Previous experience with geothermal topics is not required.
Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize Informational Webinar
📅 Oct. 3 | 3 p.m. ET
Learn about the Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize, which will invest up to $3,375,000 in coalition-building aimed at creating quality clean energy jobs and fostering an equitable and inclusive clean energy workforce.
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