Office Updates
TCU Prize Deadline Extended
 The TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize phase 1 submission deadline has been extended to Friday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET.
Tribal College and University student teams can win a cash prize of $40,000 for their TCU. Free assistance for submissions is available! View the full update for more information and tips.
Program Review Presentations Now Available Online
 All project presentation slides from the 2024 Program Review are now posted. View progress updates on more than 60 Tribal energy projects and view our Flickr photo collection to see photos from the event.
News
DOE Seeks Comments on Proposed Tribal Waiver for BABA Act Requirements
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Interior and other agencies, is seeking public comment on a proposed Public Interest Waiver which would allow Indian Tribes certain exemptions from Build American, Buy America Act (BABA) requirements. Under the proposal (Waiver Request Number 2025-12), financial assistance awards to Indian Tribes that are less than $2.5 million would be exempt from BABA for five years. Furthermore, Tribes would be able to use federal financial assistance obligated before Sept. 30, 2026, to purchase non-BABA compliant manufactured products.
DOE Welcomes 37 New Communities to Peer-Learning Cohorts to Advance Local Energy Efforts
 Peer-learning cohorts convene community entities around common clean energy transition topics.
On Dec. 11, DOE announced leaders from 38 entities will join one of three Clean Energy to Communities peer-learning cohorts. These participants include county and local governments, Tribes, community-based organizations, and utilities across 23 states and Tribal entities.
Tribal participants in the January 2025 cohorts include:
Expanding Capacity for Distributed Wind in Rural and Agricultural Communities
- Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma
- Matanuska Susitna Borough, Alaska
- Penobscot Indian Nation.
Planning for Microgrids To Increase Energy Resilience
- Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma
- National Tribal Energy Association.
DOE Prize Winners Advance Clean Energy and Manufacturing Innovation in Underserved Communities
 On Dec. 6, DOE announced that 19 teams participating in the Community Energy Innovation Prize have successfully completed the challenge to support innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity-building, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in clean energy funding.
The 19 teams in the Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem tracks were awarded at least $10,000 each for completing the final IMPACT Phase of the prize, with the top performing teams receiving up to $310,000 in prize money based on the on the strength of their partnerships and proven impact in their communities.
Clean Energy Ecosystem Track
- RESCo Innovation Team (Rosebud, South Dakota) awarded $100,000.
Manufacturing Ecosystem Track
- Eighth Generation Consulting (Osage, Oklahoma) awarded $260,000.
HUD Awards More Than $72 Million To Empower Native American Communities Across the Nation
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $72.6 million to 38 communities through the Indian Community Development Block Grant program. These grant funds may be used for infrastructure, community buildings, housing rehabilitation, land acquisition, economic development, and more to support American Indian and Alaskan Native families on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas.
Representative from HUD joined our Oct. 2023 Tribal Energy Webinar Series to share examples of how the Indian Community Development Block Grant program funds can be used for climate-resilient housing and community buildings, as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Funding Opportunities
Printable Flyer: Tribal Clean Energy Funding Opportunities
- Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy FOA
- Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas
- Transmission Acceleration Grants Program
- Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development—2025.
Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy FOA
$5 million
Applications due Dec. 18.
Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy Transition is a $5 million funding opportunity announcement (FOA) soliciting applications from Tribal colleges and universities for planning to transition their campuses to clean energy.
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas FY24
$400 million
Concept papers due Feb. 27, 2025.
This funding opportunity will include federal awards from $2 million to $50 million to help communities lead in developing tailored clean energy projects best suited for their unique needs.
Eligible projects must address at least one of the following:
- Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems; siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas
- Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities
- Developing microgrids
- Increasing energy efficiency.
Transmission Acceleration Grants Program
$10 million
Apply by Jan. 21, 2025.
This program will support state and Tribal efforts to accelerate and improve transmission siting and permitting and strengthen transmission planning for critical transmission lines (100 kV or greater) in any area of the country.
Eligible participants are state or Tribal entities or entities working with them, such as regional transmission planning organizations, regional-state committees, or not-for-profit organizations.
Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development—2025
$25 million
Applications due Jan. 23.
Under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA), the Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional corporations and Village corporations, intertribal organizations, and Tribal energy development organizations, to:
- Conduct clean energy planning
- Comprehensively assess the feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology
- Conduct clean energy design and development activities.
DOE expects to make approximately $25 million of federal funding available under this FOA, with approximately 20–40 awards that range from $100,000 to $2,500,000.
Events
- ATNI Winter Convention
- Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy Conference
- RES 2025
ATNI Winter Convention
📅 Jan. 26–30 | Portland, Oregon
ATNI Conventions are where members convene for discussion, presentations, and the work of the committees in regard to policy, legislation, and the future of Indian Country in the Northwest.
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.
RES 2025
📅 March 10–13 | Las Vegas, Nevada
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is embracing Beyond Boundaries for the 2025 Reservation Economic Summit. The event features Tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, state and local officials, and top CEOs on a national platform.
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