Office Updates
Meet Our Team: Katrina Pielli, Strategic Initiatives Lead
Katrina Pielli joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy in July 2024 as the Strategic Initiatives Lead.
In this role, she designs and leads work to support Tribes and Alaska Native entities on their energy transitions, address energy access gaps, develop new technical assistance approaches, and effectively navigate the various support DOE provides.
“My passion is working with communities, governments, and other stakeholders on their clean energy journeys in service to our country and planet,” Pielli said. “It’s an honor to work with Tribes and support them in achieving their energy visions—be that through innovation, partnership, investment, or navigation.”
Learn more about Pielli’s focus and background in our latest Meet Our Team blog.
|
News
DOE Partners with Tribes and Native Villages To Advance Local Energy Resilience Goals
 Today, DOE welcomed 25 new coastal, remote, and island communities—including seven Tribes and Native Villages—to the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) as the technical assistance program’s fourth cohort.
ETIPP helps communities assess and advance the clean energy solutions that best meet their needs, with support from experts at DOE’s national labs and a network of regional partner organizations.
Tribal communities selected:
- Organized Village of Saxman, Alaska
- Native Village of Kotzebue, Alaska
- Native Village of Scammon Bay, Alaska
- Passamaquoddy Tribe at the Pleasant Point Reservation, Maine
- Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon
- Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Washington.
Communities will receive $50,000 in direct funding to support engagement on their ETIPP projects, which include water filtration, wildfire preparedness, home heat pumps and weatherization retrofits, microgrids and battery storage, electric transportation, solar power interconnection, and wind energy potential.
Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe Awarded Phase 1 Funding for Solar and Battery Storage Projects
 The Navajo Transitional Energy Company pilot program installing solar panels for a Navajo home.
On Aug. 28, DOE shared updates on three additional Tribal projects that have been awarded Phase 1 funding to begin implementation of their Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Program projects.
It’s not too late to apply! DOE anticipates an additional $400 million for Rural or Remote Areas projects to be announced this fall. See details in the funding section below.
Tribal projects:
Two Tribal Entities Named Community Partners for Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance
 Selections map from the Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance for State, Local, and Tribal Governments Program since 2021.
DOE recently announced that the 2024 Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance Program will provide technical assistance for 20 communities in 14 states, in collaboration with state, local, and Tribal governments.
Participating Tribal government entities:
- The Coeur d'Alene Tribe Natural Resources
-
Tule River Economic Development Corporation (Tule River Indian Tribe).
The program provides technical expertise on energy and resource recovery from organic waste streams, as well as plastics, paper, cardboard, and wood waste.
DOE Awards Muscogee (Creek) Nation EECBG Funds—Applications Remain Open to May 2025
On Aug. 28, DOE announced the latest round of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program awards, building on nearly $162 million awarded to 210 communities since Oct. 2023.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will fund Certified Energy Manager trainings for staff of the Nation’s utility authority. Following the training, the utility authority will assist with benchmarking and energy savings performance contracting for Tribal facilities. Investing in staff training will enhance internal sustainable energy management expertise and support the Nation in building energy sovereignty. EECBG Program Blueprints 2A and 2B on energy efficiency in buildings will provide a framework for benchmarking and energy assessments. (Award amount: $42,290)
EECBG Application Resources for Tribes
As a reminder, the $8.8 million in EECBG funding available for 774 eligible Tribes is noncompetitive; all eligible Tribes have already been allocated these funds from DOE—the next step is to apply to receive them. Full applications are due May 31, 2025.
DOE Awards Tribes Millions in Funding for Transformative Clean Energy Projects
 DOE recently announced the selection of 12 local governments and Tribes to receive over $31 million in funding through the Communities Sparking Investments in Transformative Energy (C-SITE) funding opportunity. Under DOE’s new Local Government Energy Program, C-SITE supports the implementation of high-impact clean energy projects in disadvantaged communities, energy communities, and small- and medium-sized jurisdictions.
Tribal awardees include:
-
Hopi Utilities Corporation in Arizona will add a behind-the-meter, grid-tied Battery Energy Storage System to store excess power from an existing microgrid to build energy resilience, decrease reliance on diesel generators, and reduce high costs of unreliable energy for the Hopi Tribe. (Award amount: $3.4 million)
-
Native Village of Kotzebue in Northern Alaska, in collaboration with Kotzebue Electric Association, Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corp., Inc., the Northwest Arctic Borough, and Atautchikun, LLC., will invest in local, Tribally-produced renewable solar energy and leverage decommissioned wind turbine infrastructure to improve resilience and reduce energy costs. (Award amount: $3.3 million)
-
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota will invest in an innovative, behind-the-meter microgrid system to provide electricity for a secondary school complex, building towards a larger cooperative network and energy sovereignty and resilience in rural, Tribal communities. (Award amount: $3.1 million)
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Launches Refreshed Tribal Relations Webpage
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program places a high value on its relationship with Tribes, American Indians, and Alaska Natives.
Their updated Tribal Relations webpage features a calendar of events, a special section highlighting Rural Development programs with Tribal set-asides, and a new section designed to share Tribal policy, technical assistance, news releases, success stories, and other resources for Tribes.
Register Now for the 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition!
 Registration is now open through Oct. 7 for DOE’s 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition, an annual challenge for student teams to develop real-world, sustainable geothermal solutions, work directly in communities, gain experience in the renewable energy industry, and compete for cash prizes.
The 2024 competition will have two tracks—Technical and Policy—focused on different aspects of implementing geothermal heating and cooling systems. Follow the challenge on HeroX, set up your account, and register your team.
To learn more:
Funding Opportunities
Printable Flyer: Tribal Clean Energy Funding Opportunities
- Notice of Intent: Additional $400 Million for Rural and Remote Areas Program
- Notice of Intent: $30 Million To Support Tribal Clean Energy
- Intertribal Organization Opportunity
- Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program.
Notice of Intent: Additional $400 Million for Rural or Remote Areas Program
$400 million
Funding anticipated fall of 2024.
The goals of this funding are to deliver measurable and sustained benefits to people who live in rural or remote areas; demonstrate rural or remote energy system approaches; and build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural and remote parts of America.
DOE plans to fund anywhere from 16–69 projects across a range of topic areas, offering a range of funding from $2–$50 million each, with a 5%–50% minimum non-federal cost share per project.
Eligible applicants include Tribal Nations, state and local governmental entities, nonprofit and for-profit entities, rural electric cooperatives, farming associations and cooperatives, institutions of higher education, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia.
Intertribal Organization Opportunity: Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement
$3.6 million
Apply by Sept. 24.
This Office of Indian Energy funding opportunity is focused on enhancing outreach and engagement to improve federally recognized Tribes’ navigation and access to DOE clean energy funding and technical assistance.
Eligible nonprofit regional intertribal organizations may request up to $300,000 annually for up to 3 years. Funding will support communication, internal organizational capacity-building, and engagement activities with the goal of building long-lasting effective working relationships between Tribal elected leaders and staff and DOE.
Learn more:
Notice of Intent: $30 Million To Support Tribal Clean Energy
$30 million
Funding anticipated late summer 2024.
On Aug. 5, the Office of Indian Energy issued two Notices of Intent to release a combined $30 million in Funding Opportunity Announcements later this summer.
The first notice will support Tribal clean energy planning and development, and the second will support Tribal Colleges and Universities planning to transition to clean energy.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program
$120 million
Apply by Oct. 18.
This funding opportunity provides financial support for federally recognized Tribal Nations and authorized Tribal organizations through a competitive funding opportunity to address current and future climate change impacts on Tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will provide technical assistance to support applying for these funds, including an informational webinar, a grant writing webinar, and virtual office hours to help answer questions.
Events
- National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference
- RE+ 2024
- Intertribal Organization Funding Opportunity: Information Office Hours
- Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
- Alaska Rural Energy Annual Conference
- EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours
- Alaska Federation of Natives 2024 Convention
- Office of Indian Energy 2024 Program Review
- Deploy24.
National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference
📅 Sept. 9–12 | Anchorage, Alaska
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals will convene the third Biennial National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference with the theme Shared Responsibility for Indigenous Climate Resilience.
RE+ 2024
📅 Sept. 9–12 | Anaheim, California
RE+ 24 brings the modern energy industry together to foster a cleaner future and marks its twentieth year as the largest and most comprehensive event in North America for the clean energy industry.
Note: Filter the full agenda (using the filter field at top right) by “Department of Energy” to view DOE speakers and sessions.
Intertribal Organization Funding Opportunity: Information Office Hours
📅 Sept. 17 | 3–4 p.m. ET
Join this session to ask questions and gain a better understanding of program requirements for the Office of Indian Energy Intertribal Organization Opportunity: Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement.
Tribal Home Energy Rebates Office Hours
📅 Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Dec. 17 | 4 p.m. ET
During these sessions, DOE will provide technical assistance to Tribes and Tribal representatives working on Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates funding applications.
Alaska Rural Energy Annual Conference
📅 Oct. 2–4 | Fairbanks, Alaska
Communities and experts from around the state will work together to share practical information on energy projects, ideas, and solutions for Alaska’s rural communities.
EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours
📅 Oct. 3 | 4 p.m. ET
The EECBG Program provides $8.8 million to 774 eligible Tribes, including Alaska Native Regional and Village corporations.
Alaska Federation of Natives 2024 Convention
📅 Oct. 17–19 | Anchorage, Alaska
The annual convention serves as the principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing critical issues of public policy and government. The convention convenes thousands of official delegates and participants from membership organizations across the state.
Office of Indian Energy 2024 Program Review
📅 Nov. 18–22 | Denver, Colorado
This annual event is an opportunity for Tribal Leaders and staff to meet, learn from other Tribes pursuing clean energy projects, and share in each other's successes.
Demonstrate Deploy Decarbonize 2024
📅 Dec. 4–5 | Washington, D.C.
Hosted by DOE, Deploy24 will bring together industry executives, investors, community leaders, and other public and private sector decision makers from across the clean energy supply chain. Our focus: to accelerate the deployment of critical energy and decarbonization technologies in the United States.
Here's what's catching attention on our social media pages. Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook for the latest updates.
|
