News
DOE Supports Tribal Transmission Planning Through Multiple Technical Assistance Programs
 NEW: Tribal Nation Transmission Program
Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Villages can now apply for technical assistance to support strategic transmission planning. Established through Tribal input to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the new Tribal Nation Transmission Program provides educational resources, training, and on-call support from technical experts and researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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Request travel funding: The program offers funding for Tribal member participation in key transmission events. Visit the program website to request technical assistance or funding to attend transmission events. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis.
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Provide feedback at Tribal listening sessions: The program will host Tribal listening sessions Sept. 26 and Nov. 6 for Tribal Leaders, representatives, and Tribal energy practitioners to better understand gaps, challenges, and opportunities for integrating Tribal equity considerations into transmission planning.
Tribes can also join the Inclusive Transmission Planning project, recently launched in partnership by the DOE Grid Deployment Office and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
This project is focused on integrating equity in the transmission planning process and builds on the Principles of Equitable Transmission Planning report. The project offers 11 months of technical assistance to develop customized resources, conduct trainings and webinars, provide direct consultation, and offer advanced modeling and analysis to selected recipients.
Join a Tribal listening session on Nov. 6 to share your feedback.
Michigan Tribes Awarded $2.8 Million To Accelerate Building Code Adoption and Save Money
 A precursor to this current funding, in 2011 the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan was awarded an energy efficiency grant from the DOE Tribal Energy Program to study select Bay Mills Indian Community buildings to determine what was required to reduce each building’s energy consumption by 30%.
On Sept. 16, DOE announced $90 million in competitive awards to help states, cities, Tribal Nations, and their partners implement updated energy codes for residential and commercial buildings.
Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these awards will support 25 new projects across the country to help ensure buildings meet the latest standards for energy efficiency—lowering energy bills for American families and businesses while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and advancing environmental justice.
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Slipstream, Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, and the Bay Mills Indian Community will work closely with Tribal Nations in Michigan to provide training and resources to assist with code adoption and implementation, as well as innovative approaches that can inform their energy, climate, and resilience strategies for new and existing buildings (Award amount: $2.8 million).
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $72.8 Million Loan Guarantee To Build Solar-Plus-Storage Microgrid on Tribal Lands
 On Sept. 13, DOE announced the closing of a $72.8 million loan guarantee to finance the development of a solar-plus-long-duration-energy-storage microgrid. The microgrid will be located on the Tribal lands of the Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas Reservation near Alpine, California.
This project—supported by a grant from the California Energy Commission, investments from U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, and Starbucks—will provide the Viejas Band with reliable utility-scale renewable energy generation and storage infrastructure through the installation of a 15-MW photovoltaic solar generation system and a 70-MWh battery long-duration energy storage system.
- After solar and battery system installation, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians will purchase electricity through the project company under a long-term power purchase agreement to help operate various commercial businesses, including gaming, hospitality, and retail facilities.
DOE Awards Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians $1.96 Million To Improve Renewable Energy Siting
Support to States and Tribes To Improve Planning, Siting, and Permitting
 The R-STEP program has announced two rounds of state-based collaborations. Round 1 included projects (in green) in Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Round 2 includes projects (in blue) in Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington state.
On Sept. 10, DOE announced the selection of six projects totaling $11.6 million funded by the Inflation Reduction Act in the second round of a program that will improve planning, siting, and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities.
The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning program funds state-based and Tribal collaboratives to evaluate stakeholder needs and develop state-specific educational materials and technical assistance programs to improve permitting processes for communities and industry.
- The Washington state-based collaborative, led by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, will position Tribal governments as leaders, facilitators, and co-creators of culturally responsive siting and permitting resources, templates, and tools to support the development of solar and wind projects on no- and low-conflict sites (Award amount: $1.96 million).
DOE Announces $18.9 Million Financial Assistance Grant Award Selections to 12 Disadvantaged Communities Across Country
On Sept. 9, DOE announced competitive financial assistance grant selections for the Community Capacity Building Grant Program.
The awards will focus on reinvestment in disadvantaged communities impacted by decades of nuclear defense and research missions and that are currently hosting environmental cleanup sites.
The awards will also focus on strengthening relationships with communities by supporting projects that serve community and economic development goals, promote revitalization efforts, and promote inclusive community engagement practices.
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The Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians will receive a grant award to build capacity for effective and meaningful Tribal interactions by developing a community-based engagement program that will help Tribal communities meet and share information within and among Tribal Nations on remediation actions involving Santa Susana Field Lab’s archaeological and cultural resources. The total estimated value for this grant is $495,434.
- The New Mexico Regional Development Corporation will receive a grant award designed to increase and maximize economic and workforce development along with employment benefits for the Pueblo de San Ildefonso and other low-income regional communities. The total estimated value for this grant is $1,684,578.
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The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will receive a grant award to better understand their environmental and cultural heritage and gain a better understanding of the community’s needs through development of outreach materials tailored to different parts of the Tribal community, field trips to the site by youth and elders, and access to sacred sites. The total estimated value for this grant is $315,618.
EPA Launches New Website To Support the Development of Climate-Resilient Projects
 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the launch of a new website, the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox (CRAFT).
CRAFT is a user-friendly resource for technical assistance providers working with federal funding applicants and recipients to develop, apply for, and implement climate-resilient investments.
The website provides simple, easy-to-understand resources that can help users consider climate adaptation and resilience before, during, and after applying for EPA funding opportunities.
IRS Encourages Tribal Governments Planning To Claim Elective Pay To Complete Pre-Filing Registration Now for 2023 Tax Year
 The IRS strongly urges Tribal governments to complete the pre-filing registration process now for projects placed in service in 2023 if they plan to claim elective pay.
Tribal governments should file their annual return after completing the pre-filing registration process. A timely filed return (including extensions) is required to make an elective payment election. Electronic return filing, if not required, is strongly encouraged.
The Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act of 2022 allow Tribal governments to take advantage of certain manufacturing investment, clean energy investment, and production tax credits through elective pay.
The IRS offers office hours for help with the pre-filing registration process for elective payment and transfer of clean energy and CHIPS credits. Register to attend a session Oct. 2, Oct. 16, Oct. 30, or Nov. 13.
Funding Opportunities
Printable Flyer: Tribal Clean Energy Funding Opportunities
- Clean Energy to Communities (C2C)
- Notice of Intent: Additional $400 Million for Rural and Remote Areas Program
- Notice of Intent: $30 Million To Support Tribal Clean Energy
- Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program.
C2C—Technical Assistance Peer-Learning Cohorts
Applications due Oct. 31.
DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program is now accepting applications for a new round of peer-learning cohorts. Participants in C2C peer-learning cohorts receive strategic and technical assistance; access to training materials, tools, and best practices; and the chance to collaborate with peers across the country.
The three peer-learning cohort topics in this round are:
- Distributed wind
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency 101 in Appalachia
- Microgrids.
 Participants meet regularly for approximately 6 months to exchange strategies and best practices and learn in a collaborative environment.
Notice of Intent: Additional $400 Million for Rural or Remote Areas Program
$400 million
Funding anticipated fall 2024.
The goals of this funding are to deliver measurable and sustained benefits to people who live in rural or remote areas; demonstrate rural or remote energy system approaches; and build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural and remote parts of America.
DOE plans to fund anywhere from 16–69 projects across a range of topic areas, offering a range of funding from $2–$50 million each, with a 5%–50% minimum non-federal cost share per project.
Eligible applicants include Tribal Nations, state and local governmental entities, nonprofit and for-profit entities, rural electric cooperatives, farming associations and cooperatives, institutions of higher education, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia.
 Community members in front of the 120 kW solar array in Hughes, Alaska. The Alaskan Tribal Energy Sovereignty project was awarded up to $26 million in the previous round of Rural or Remote Areas Program funding.
Notice of Intent: $30 Million To Support Tribal Clean Energy
$30 million
Funding anticipated late summer 2024.
On Aug. 5, the Office of Indian Energy issued two Notices of Intent to release a combined $30 million in Funding Opportunity Announcements later this summer.
The first notice will support Tribal clean energy planning and development, and the second will support Tribal Colleges and Universities planning to transition to clean energy.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program
$120 million
Apply by Oct. 18.
This funding opportunity provides financial support for federally recognized Tribal Nations and authorized Tribal organizations through a competitive funding opportunity to address current and future climate change impacts on Tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will provide technical assistance to support applying for these funds, including an informational webinar, a grant writing webinar, and virtual office hours to help answer questions.
Events
- Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
- Inclusive Transmission Planning Tribal Representatives Listening Sessions
- Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Annual Convention
- IRS Office Hours for Elective Pay and Transferability of Clean Energy Credits
- Alaska Rural Energy Annual Conference
- EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours
- Alaska Federation of Natives 2024 Convention
- Office of Indian Energy 2024 Program Review
- Deploy24.
Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
📅 Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Dec. 17 | 4 p.m. ET
During these sessions, DOE will provide technical assistance to Tribes and Tribal representatives working on Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates funding applications.
Inclusive Transmission Planning Tribal Representatives Listening Sessions
📅 Sept. 26, Nov. 6 | 1 p.m. ET
DOE’s Inclusive Transmission Planning project is focused on integrating equity in the transmission planning process and builds on the Principles of Equitable Transmission Planning report.
The program will host listening sessions Sept. 26 and Nov. 6 for Tribal Leaders, representatives, and Tribal energy practitioners to better understand gaps, challenges, and opportunities for integrating Tribal equity considerations into transmission planning.
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Annual Convention
📅 Sept. 29 – Oct. 3 | Vancouver, Washington
Visit the Office of Indian booth at the ATNI Annual Convention to learn more about funding and other resources.
IRS Office Hours for Elective Pay and Transferability of Clean Energy Credits
📅 Oct. 2, 16, 30; Nov. 13 | 1–2:30 p.m. ET
The IRS is hosting office hours to assist organizations and entities with the pre-filing registration process and the IRA/CHIPS Pre-filing Registration Tool for elective payment and transferability of clean energy and CHIPS credits. Subject matter experts from Large Business & International and Tax Exempt/Government Entities are available to answer questions.
For more information, visit us at IRS.gov/tribes or IRS.gov/cleanenergy.
Alaska Rural Energy Annual Conference
📅 Oct. 2–4 | Fairbanks, Alaska
Visit the Office of Indian Energy booth and learn more about funding and other resources. Communities and experts from around the state will work together to share practical information on energy projects, ideas, and solutions for Alaska’s rural communities.
EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours
📅 Oct. 3 | 4 p.m. ET
The EECBG Program provides $8.8 million to 774 eligible Tribes, including Alaska Native Regional and Village corporations.
Alaska Federation of Natives 2024 Convention
📅 Oct. 17–19 | Anchorage, Alaska
The annual convention serves as the principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing critical issues of public policy and government. The convention convenes thousands of official delegates and participants from membership organizations across the state.
Office of Indian Energy 2024 Program Review
📅 Nov. 18–22 | Denver, Colorado
This annual event is an opportunity for Tribal Leaders and staff to meet, learn from other Tribes pursuing clean energy projects, and share in each other's successes.
Demonstrate Deploy Decarbonize 2024
📅 Dec. 4–5 | Washington, D.C.
Hosted by DOE, Deploy24 will bring together industry executives, investors, community leaders, and other public and private sector decision makers from across the clean energy supply chain. Our focus: to accelerate the deployment of critical energy and decarbonization technologies in the United States.
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