Office Updates
Happy Native American Heritage Month!
 During the month of November, we honor the rich cultures of Native American and Alaska Native Peoples. We celebrate the vital contributions and continued leadership of Tribal Nations as we live and work together to ensure a healthy environment and thriving communities for future generations.
Follow us on social media for inspiration and quotes from our staff throughout the month.
Tribal Energy Snapshot: Colusa Indian Community Council
 In our latest Tribal Energy Snapshot, learn about Colusa Indian Community Council’s expansion of the electric distribution line to power more Tribal homes, co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy.
Since the development of Colusa Indian Energy, the Tribal utility authority, Tribal homes and businesses are 100% powered by the Tribally owned and operated cogeneration power plant and microgrid system.
This project will expand the microgrid electric distribution line to power more of the community’s homes as well as newly installed energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting.
Watch Now: Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development—2025 FOA Webinar Recording
 The Office of Indian Energy held a webinar on Oct. 24, 2024, on the Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development - 2025 (DE-FOA-0003401) funding opportunity announcement (FOA).
In addition to describing the FOA, information is provided on who is eligible to apply, what an application needs to include, how to ask questions, and how applications will be selected for funding.
View the FOA webinar recording and slides for more information.
Applications are due by Jan. 23, 2025.
News
DOE Seeking Small Business Contractors To Support Tribes Applying for TEFP
The DOE Loan Programs Office is conducting market research to locate potential small business contractors that can support Tribes applying to the Loan Programs Office’s Tribal Energy Financing Program (TEFP).
The TEFP will use the loan application assistance appropriations to aid TEFP applicants that have completed the Part I requirements but are facing financial barriers in achieving further requirements.
View the notice on sam.gov to learn more. The response deadline is Nov. 15, 2024.
Update: 48(e) Application Window Still Open for Projects on Indian Land
DOE is continuing to accept applications on a rolling basis for projects located on Indian lands (Category 2) until Nov. 12, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET, for its Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS, in partnership with DOE, announced that Treasury and IRS have received over 50,000 applications requesting over 6 gigawatts of capacity for clean energy projects across the country so far in the 2024 Program Year of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program under Section 48(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The IRS Final Regulations for the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program under Section 48(e), Frequently Asked Questions, and other resources can be found on the DOE program homepage.
Biden-Harris Administration Delivers Nearly $474 Million in New Grid Resilience Funding to States and Tribes as Part of Investing in America Agenda
Investing in America Agenda Continues Efforts To Modernize Electric Grid to Deliver Reliable, Clean, and Affordable Energy Across the Country, in 5 Territories and Among 254 Tribal Nations
 On Oct. 25, DOE announced that 49 states, 5 territories, 254 Tribal Nations, and the District of Columbia have received a combined total of $473.6 million in Fiscal Year 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants to modernize the electric grid to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events while also ensuring the reliability of the power sector.
A full list of allocations awarded to date by state, Tribe, and territory is available online.
Reminder: FERC Accepting Comments on Petition for Rulemaking by Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) convened two virtual consultations and is accepting comments on the Petition for Expedited Rulemaking submitted by the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy on Aug. 9, 2024.
The petition requests that FERC review the process for how power plants are interconnected to the electric grid and asks that Tribal Nations be exempt from submission of the first three commercial readiness deposits and a portion of the withdrawal penalties.
Federally recognized Tribes may provide input on the petition by submitting comments by 5 p.m. ET, Nov. 18, 2024.
DOE Seeks Public Input on Approaches To Catalyze Direct Air Capture Technology Commercialization
On Oct. 29, the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations issued a request for information to obtain public input regarding additional approaches that current and future DOE programs could implement to help direct air capture technology developers address challenges in raising project investment capital and achieving sustained facility operations.
Responses are due by Dec. 17.
Funding Opportunities
Printable Flyer: Tribal Clean Energy Funding Opportunities
- TCUs Prize and FOA
- Community Power Accelerator Prize
- Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas
-
NEW: Rural Business Development Grant.
TCUs Prize and FOA
$9 million View deadlines below.
On Sept. 26, the Office of Indian Energy announced over $9 million in funding and prizes to support Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) in their efforts to advance clean energy projects and bolster food sovereignty initiatives on their campuses.
American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize
$10 million Apply by Dec. 17.
Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize is designed to fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support successful distributed solar projects. Round 3 seeks organizations that aim to develop and finance a portfolio of two or more projects that, in aggregate, total at least 1 MW AC of distributed solar generation (but do not exceed 5 MW AC).
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas: Fiscal Year 2025 Release
$400 million Concept papers due Feb. 27, 2025; full applications due Aug. 28, 2025.
On Oct. 3, DOE opened applications to spur innovative, community-focused, clean energy solutions for rural and remote communities across the United States. The funding will include federal awards from $2 million–$50 million to help communities lead in developing tailored clean energy projects best suited for their unique needs.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant
$10,000–$500,000 per grant Apply by Feb. 28, 2025.
These U.S. Department of Agriculture grants support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities that promote the development and expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Funds can be used for a wide range of business and community projects that serve rural areas.
Events
- IRS Office Hours for Elective Pay
- Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
- Office of Indian Energy 2024 Program Review
- BIA Tribal Provider’s Conference
- Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy Conference.
IRS Office Hours for Elective Pay and Transferability of Clean Energy Credits
📅 Nov. 13 | 1–2:30 p.m. ET
The IRS is hosting office hours to assist organizations and entities with the prefiling 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 and International and Tax Exempt/Government Entities are available to answer questions.
For more information, visit IRS.gov/tribes or IRS.gov/cleanenergy.
Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
📅 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.
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.
34th Annual BIA Tribal Provider’s Conference
📅 Dec. 3–5 | Anchorage, Alaska
The 34th annual BIA Tribal Provider’s Conference is scheduled for December 3–5, 2024, at the Dena’ina Center in downtown Anchorage.
Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy & Sustainability 7th Annual Conference
📅 Jan. 27–29 | Hollywood, Florida
This conference will focus on the newly changing landscape for Tribal energy development and sustainability, including best practices, federal leadership, policy and regulatory changes, funding a project, and project planning/development trends.
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