DOE Opens $25M Funding Opportunity to Support Tribal Clean Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy has opened a funding opportunity making up to $25 million available to support clean energy technology deployment on Tribal lands. Certain projects fueled by biomass, biogas, renewable natural gas (RNG) or renewable hydrogen are among those eligible for the funding.

The funding opportunity announcement (FOA), announced on Feb. 27, aims to strengthen Tribal energy sovereignty through local clean energy generation, while increasing energy access, reliability and security.

“Like all Americans, Tribal communities deserve access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Many Indian Tribes pay more than four times the national average on utility bills and some families do not have electricity for light or refrigeration, which is why the Biden-Harris Administration is working hard to ensure that Native communities have the support they need to increase access to clean energy solutions that will lower energy costs and enhance energy sovereignty.”

The FOA solicits applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations to install clean energy generating systems and/or energy efficiency measures for Tribal buildings; deploy community-scale clean energy generating systems or community energy storage on Tribal lands; install integrated energy systems(s) for autonomous operation (independent of the traditional centralized power grid) to power single or multiple essential Tribal buildings during emergency situations or for Tribal community resilience; or provide electric power to Tribal buildings, which otherwise would be unelectrified.

For the purposes of the FOA, clean energy generating systems include renewable energy systems or combined-heat-and-power (CHP) systems using renewable fuels such as biomass, biogas, RNG or renewable hydrogen.

Applications for the FOA can be submitted through May 30. Additional information is available on the DOE website.