Office Updates
Watch Now: Leveraging Opportunities To Bring Tribal Clean Energy Projects Online
 Hear Tribal energy success stories from the Seneca Nation of Indians and Northwest Arctic Borough and learn about the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program 48(e).
Thank you to everyone who joined us last Wednesday for the latest edition of the 2024 Tribal Energy Webinar Series! The presentation slides and recording are available now.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) explained the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, which is now accepting applications for investment tax credits for solar and wind energy facilities on Indian land.
Additionally, we heard how the Independent Power Producer framework is being used to bring clean energy projects online in Alaska with Northwest Arctic Borough, and how the Seneca Nation leveraged existing partnerships with their providers to bring renewable energy and broadband projects online. And, if you’re interested in technical assistance from the Office of Indian Energy, Margie Schaff provided an overview of the technical assistance process and Tribal utility pre-feasibility studies.
News
Apply by July 10 for the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project
 DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are still seeking coastal, remote, and island communities to join the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP).
ETIPP technical assistance combines energy expertise from researchers within DOE’s national laboratory complex with the regional knowledge of place-based partner organizations to empower communities to address their local energy resilience challenges. Communities selected for the program will lead the way in shaping their priorities for technical assistance and will receive up to $50,000 to support their projects.
Applications are open through July 10, 2024. Apply now.
Penobscot Nation First Tribe To Apply for Rebates Funding
 On June 11, the Penobscot Nation in Maine became the first Tribe to submit a complete funding application to implement a Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program.
“The Penobscot Nation is excited to submit this application and grateful that there are funding opportunities such as the Home Energy Rebates program,” said Gary Fearon, Director of Housing for the Penobscot Nation. “This program will touch and positively impact the lives of many of our Tribal citizens.”
The Inflation Reduction Act provided $225 million for Tribal HEAR programs. DOE has allocated funding amounts to Tribes that will be awarded upon having their applications approved by DOE.
Tribes have until May 31, 2025, to apply for their funding.
DOE Launches Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits Online Portal as One-Stop Shop for Streamlined Federal Transmission Permitting
The online portal and Integrated Interagency Preapplication Process ensure coordination with federal agencies to deliver a timely completion of federal permitting reviews.
 Secretary Granholm shares her remarks on the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits Portal.
To streamline the federal transmission permitting process, the DOE Grid Deployment Office launched the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits online portal, a one-stop shop for qualified transmission developers to track the status of their application, submit materials, and facilitate communication with DOE and other federal agencies.
The secure online portal will be used to share information that will inform federal permitting agencies’ authorization decisions and enhance transparency.
The portal clearly identifies information and documentation needed to apply for federal environmental reviews and authorizations. As part of an Integrated Interagency Preapplication Process, applicants will work iteratively through the portal with DOE and other federal agencies to gather information that supports various federal permitting reviews and necessary authorizations before the two-year environmental review timeline is initiated.
Learn more about the portal’s streamlined permitting process.
17 Arctic Energy Champions Selected for 2024–2025 Cohort
 The Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy announced the selection of 17 energy champions for its 2024–2025 cohort. These distinguished individuals, who live in and work with remote circumpolar communities, have been chosen for their dedication to advancing sustainable community energy solutions in the North.
The Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy, a collaborative initiative led by Canada, the United States, and Iceland, is an experiential knowledge-sharing program designed to connect rural community energy practitioners. The program brings together energy leaders from diverse Arctic regions to learn from one another and tour successful community-scale high-penetration renewable energy systems deployed in the North.
Congratulations to the participants representing Alaska Native Villages and Corporations on an international level!
Funding Opportunities
Printable Flyer: Tribal Clean Energy Funding Opportunities
EPA Community Change Grants—Free Technical Assistance To Support Application Process
$450 million for Tribes.
Apply by Nov. 21.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Change Grants offer an unprecedented opportunity to transform underserved communities—including federally recognized Tribes, intertribal consortia, Alaska Native Villages and Corporations, and Native Hawaiian nonprofit organizations across the United States—into healthy, climate-resilient, thriving communities for their current and future residents.
Webinars: EPA will provide background on the grant, explain the application process, eligibility and partnership requirements, and more.
Need help with your application? You can request free technical assistance with the application process by filling out the intake form on the Community Change Grants website. See more on the Community Change Grant Technical Assistance fact sheet.
Events
- USDA Rural Clean Energy Federal Funding Fair
- EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours
- Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
- Chena Hot Springs 18th Annual Renewable Energy Fair
- National Transportation in Indian Country Conference.
USDA Rural Clean Energy Federal Funding Fair Webinars
📅 July 11, 2–5 p.m. ET
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is hosting a federal funding fair featuring presenters from the DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs, Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain, Solar Energy Technology Office, and Loan Programs Office.
Representatives from USDA will also talk more about USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America (REAP) program and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Programs.
EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours
📅 July 11, 25
Hosted on a bi-weekly basis. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program provides $8.8 million to 774 eligible Tribes, including Alaska Native Regional and Village corporations.
Tribal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program Office Hours
📅 July 9, 16
Office hours are hosted on a bi-weekly basis. This program will provide up to $14,000 per eligible Tribal household for energy efficiency and electrification home upgrades.
Chena Hot Springs 18th Annual Renewable Energy Fair
📅 Aug. 18
Chena Hot Springs hosts the annual Renewable Energy Fair every August. The fair’s goal is to spread awareness of renewable energy technologies and sustainability opportunities.
National Transportation in Indian Country Conference
📅 Aug. 25–29
The National Transportation in Indian Country Conference is hosted by The Center for Tribal Transportation and is planned and organized by a planning committee comprising Tribal transportation professionals from Tribes and Tribal organizations across the United States.
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