The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allotted up to $3.6 million to bolster collaboration with non-profit regional intertribal organizations. This initiative, called “Intertribal Organization Opportunity: Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement”, aims to enhance outreach and engagement, empowering federally recognized tribes to better navigate and access DOE clean energy funding and technical assistance programs.
In a media release, the DOE said that eligible non-profit regional intertribal organizations may request up to $300,000 annually for up to three years. Funding will support communication, internal organizational capacity-building, and engagement activities to build long-lasting effective working relationships between Tribal elected leaders and staff, and the DOE. Applications for 2024 are due by September 24.
This funding opportunity is managed by ENERGYWERX in collaboration with the DOE, facilitated by a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) through the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions, according to the DOE.
The PIA empowers ENERGYWERX to broaden the DOE’s reach by engaging with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, ultimately accelerating the deployment of clean energy solutions.
“Our office is excited to use the PIA funding mechanism for the first time”, Office of Indian Energy Director Wahleah Johns said. “This provides an opportunity to build partnerships with regional intertribal organizations and enhance DOE’s outreach and engagement efforts to better support Tribal Nations as they pursue their energy visions”.
To be eligible, these organizations must be coalitions of multiple tribes, established under official law, governed by current tribal officials, and focused on clean energy.
The funding aims to bridge the gap between tribes and the DOE on clean energy initiatives. This will involve activities like sharing information on DOE funding and technical assistance, helping tribes assess their clean energy needs and connect themselves with relevant programs, and fostering communication through conferences, workshops, and other events. These events will bring together tribes, the energy sector, and the DOE to share knowledge, collaborate, and learn from each other.
This initiative builds on the DOE’s ongoing efforts to support clean energy development on tribal lands. In addition to the $75 million committed to tribal energy projects selected in 2023, the Office of Indian Energy has invested over $120 million in Native communities since 2010, the DOE said. These investments have resulted in more than 46 megawatts of new electricity generation installed.
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