New Funding For 18 Clean Energy Projects Will Lower Energy Costs and Increase Security For American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
PHOENIX, AZ—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $34 million in funding to advance clean energy technology in 18 American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This funding will strengthen tribal communities by supercharging their access to solar power and microgrids, increasing energy security and resilience, and powering unelectrified tribal buildings. These investments bring our nation closer to the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to enhance tribal energy sovereignty and reduce energy costs for American families as we head towards a clean energy future.
“These selected projects reflect DOE’s commitment to meet the climate crisis head on and guarantee tribal communities have access to electricity and clean energy technology,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. “These crucial investments support President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while ensuring American Indian and Alaska Native communities, many of whom are facing the most dire consequences of climate change, will directly benefit from these investments, resulting in stronger, more resilient tribal nations.”
These projects are estimated to result in more than nine megawatts of new clean energy generation and more than 6,700 megawatt-hours of battery storage, impact 1,000 tribal buildings, and save these communities more than $100 million over the life of the systems. This investment will yield tangible benefits year after year to improve the quality of life for these underserved communities.
These cost-shared clean energy projects, valued in total at more than $49 million, are the result of two competitive funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) released November 1, 2022, one for the deployment of clean energy technology and one to power unelectrified tribal buildings. Through these FOAs and these selected projects, the Office of Indian Energy continues its efforts to strengthen tribal energy and economic infrastructure, resource development, and electrification on tribal lands.
Between FY 2010 and FY 2022, DOE invested over $120 million in more than 210 tribal energy projects implemented across the contiguous 48 United States and Alaska. Through these grants, the Office of Indian Energy continues its efforts, in partnership with Native communities, to maximize the deployment of clean energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives. See the Office of Indian Energy website for a map and summaries of these competitively funded projects.
The projects competitively selected for negotiation of award are as follows:
Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.
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1000 Independence Ave. SW
Washington DC 20585
202-586-5000