Office of Indian Energy Updates
DOE Announces $3 Million to Transition Two TCUs to Clean Energy
 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $3 million in funding for two projects aimed at transitioning Tribal College and University campuses to clean energy. This investment will support efforts to achieve energy sovereignty by lowering operating costs, providing a foundation for clean energy curricula, and serving as examples to be replicated at other institutions.
The two projects competitively selected for negotiation of award are:
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Blackfeet Community College (Browning, MT): This project will install approximately 136-kW ground-mounted solar PV system on the Blackfeet Community College campus. This project combined with previous solar installations will transition the entire 17 building campus to 100% renewable energy and provide hands-on training for three students and the savings reinvested back into the College to help students and the community. (Requested DOE Funds: $630,834)
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Turtle Mountain Community College (Belcourt, ND): This project will install a 120-kW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a 2,356 square foot 2-stage solar air heat (SolarWall®) system for the 15,550 square foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility where solar and renewable energy curriculum will be deployed and improved building energy efficiency through optimization of existing geothermal resources. These systems are estimated to reduce electricity costs of the CTE by over 50% and save more than $1 million over the life of the systems. The associated curriculum will target high-wage occupations that lead to employment and self-sufficiency for participants. (Requested DOE Funds: $2,400,532)
These cost-shared clean energy projects are the result of a competitive funding opportunity announcement released April 12, 2023. Through these selected projects, the Office of Indian Energy continues its efforts to reduce or stabilize energy costs and increase energy security and resiliency.
Between 2010 and 2022, DOE’s Office of Indian Energy invested over $120 million in more than 210 Tribal energy projects implemented across the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. These projects, valued at more than $215 million, are leveraged by over $93 million in recipient cost share. See the DOE Office of Indian Energy website for a map and summaries of these competitively funded projects.
Find more information about past funding opportunities and learn more on the DOE Office of Indian Energy website.
Meet Our Team: Stephanie Bostwick, TCU Coordinator
Stephanie Bostwick joined the Office of Indian Energy on a detail to serve as a TCU coordinator in July 2023. Stephanie is a member of the Amskapi Pikuni, also known as the Blackfeet Nation.
Do you have questions or ideas about funding for clean energy infrastructure or curriculum development at your TCU? Please reach out to Stephanie at stephanie.bostwick@hq.doe.gov.
Tell us a little about your role with the Office of Indian Energy.
As a TCU coordinator for the Office of Indian Energy, my role involves outreach and communication with TCUs to ensure they are aware of, and have input into, our funding opportunities that support clean energy infrastructure and curriculum development.
What do you find most inspiring or motivating about your work?
Education is the key to capacity building and supporting future generations in Tribal communities. Working alongside TCUs to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and funding needed to develop and grow these educational opportunities is both exciting and motivating for me. Each community has unique needs and challenges, so there is always room for innovative solutions.
Learn more about Stephanie on the blog.
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News and Resources
Navajo Technical University Among 105 Solar Decathlon Teams Tackling Zero-Energy Building Designs
 Students from Navajo Technical University, in Crownpoint, New Mexico, are among 105 teams from 93 worldwide collegiate institutions that are tackling climate change by designing high-performance, zero-energy buildings as part of DOE’s Solar Decathlon® 2024 Design Challenge.
“Creating affordable, energy-efficient solutions for buildings nationwide is key to the United States meeting its decarbonization goals,” said Holly Jamesen Carr, Solar Decathlon director. “Hundreds of students from around the world are set to meet this challenge head-on this year as they participate in DOE’s longest-running collegiate competition.”
The Design Challenge encourages collegiate student teams to create highly efficient, low-carbon building designs that address issues related to climate resilience, embodied carbon, existing building retrofits, community impact, and more.
Learn more about this year's participants.
Feedback Requested: DOE Seeks Information on How to Better Reach and Recruit Underrepresented Populations into STEM Careers and Workforce
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released a Request for Information (note: link can be slow to open) seeking input about its efforts to address the need for a diverse American energy workforce by leveraging organizations that are uniquely qualified to reach underrepresented communities.
DOE seeks to understand the most effective ways to engage individuals from groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), especially in ways that promote interest in careers that support the nation’s transition to clean energy.
This request is looking for public feedback related to educational and professional development programming developed by nonprofit organizations that inspires students, alumni, and professionals to explore, pursue, and succeed in STEM-related careers in clean energy.
Responses should be emailed to CECFA@ee.doe.gov by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.
NREL Hosts Internship Program for Underrepresented Undergraduate and Graduate Students in STEM
 Applications are now open for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Enabling Native Researchers and other Minorities through Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) summer 2024 internship program. The program offers undergraduate and graduate students at minority-serving institutions enhanced hands-on experience in engineering disciplines of power, energy, and cybersecurity. Visit NREL’s careers page to learn more about the internship and apply by Jan. 31, 2024.
In addition to the internship program, NREL is contributing to the development of the first Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited graduate engineering program at any TCU and supporting the buildout of a smart grid testbed at Navajo Technical University.
This work is funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program and is in collaboration with the ENRGE consortium, which includes Navajo Technical University, Alabama A&M University, Florida International University, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Sandia National Laboratories, and Idaho National Laboratory.
Register Now for the 2024 EnergyTech University Prize Collegiate Competition
More than $500,000 in prizes available; new faculty team track for energy education.
 Collegiate students and faculty interested in energy and entrepreneurship are invited to participate in the 2024 EnergyTech University Prize Collegiate Competition. This competition challenges student teams to develop and present business plans that leverage emerging energy technologies developed by students, faculty, or industry, including technologies developed at U.S. national laboratories.
Participating student teams will compete for a share of $400,000, as well as bonus prize money provided by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office and nine additional DOE offices.
New Faculty Challenge: The 2024 EnergyTech UP competition also features a new challenge offering faculty teams the chance to compete for a share of $100,000 in cash prizes by successfully implementing educational activities that engage increasing numbers of students in energy technology commercialization and entrepreneurship topics at their institutions.
Registration closes Feb. 1, 2024.
Additional Clean Energy Internship and Scholarship Opportunities for 2024
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Alaska Center for Energy and Power Summer Internship Program will begin accepting applications for the summer 2024 cohort on Friday, Dec. 1. The application period is open through Jan. 5, 2024.
- The Renewable Energy Scholarship Foundation is now accepting applications for 2024 scholarships of $2,500, including two awards for Native American or Alaskan Native students. All students preparing for renewable energy careers are eligible. Apply by Feb. 15, 2024.
- DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions is accepting applications for the fourth round of its one-of-a-kind Technology Commercialization Internship Program. This internship, scheduled for summer 2024, is a unique paid opportunity for 15 undergraduate business and STEM students to experience DOE’s world-class National Lab system, boost their entrepreneurial thinking, and explore energy technology markets.
- DOE, along with the U.S. National Science Foundation, announced the second round of the Geothermal INTERN opportunity is open and actively accepting applications. This collaboration supports 10 to 20 research internships per year to work on projects that advance geothermal technologies. With their principal investigators, students selected for this opportunity can create their own internship that applies their academic interests with a host organization in the geothermal industry.
Funding Opportunities
Stay up to date on the latest clean energy funding opportunities for tribes and tribal entities on the Office of Indian Energy Current Funding Opportunities page.
Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies 2024
$30 million
Concept papers due Dec. 18.
This funding opportunity will invest up to $30 million across nine topic areas to research, develop, and validate technologies with the potential to significantly advance building decarbonization. Technologies developed through the funding opportunity will advance the state of the art for HVAC equipment, lower the cost of building envelope and lighting retrofits, and make buildings more resilient to blackouts and extreme weather.
Tribal Electrification Program
$145 million ($72.5 million in current round)
Full application deadline Dec. 22.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Tribal Electrification Program will coordinate financial and technical assistance to Tribes to increase the number of Tribal homes with zero-emissions electricity.
Events
2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit
📅 Dec. 6–7 | Washington, D.C.
Tribal Leaders will have the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with senior Administration officials on implementation of key priorities, new policies, and other critical issues facing Tribal Nations.
Tribal Consultation on Revisions to DOE Tribal Consultation Order and Policy
📅 Dec. 11 | 1 p.m. ET | Virtual Consultation
Join virtually to provide input on proposed updates to DOE’s order and policy governing Tribal consultation and engagement.
2024 DOE Tribal Clean Energy Summit
📅 Feb. 27–28 | Temecula, California
We invite Tribal Leaders and staff to come together to build networks, exchange ideas, and explore clean energy solutions that support Tribal energy sovereignty.
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