Office of Indian Energy Updates
TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize Submissions Due Dec. 4!
Free Technical Assistance Now Available for Prize Teams
 As a reminder, Phase 1 submissions for the TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize are due on Dec. 4, 2024, by 5 p.m. ET. Encourage your students to upload their documents soon!
Each submission package for Phase 1 is required to have the following elements:
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Online video: Post an interesting 90-second video that explains your project.
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Cover page: Write one page that includes team name, team members, TCU name, and confirmation of intent to attend the Office of Indian Energy Annual Program Review in 2025.
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Narrative: Answer three questions about your project overview, project plan, and team. Must be shorter than 2,500 words (roughly five pages single-spaced).
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Summary PowerPoint slide: Create one slide that introduces your team and mission.
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Letter of commitment from TCU: Provide a signed letter of commitment from your TCU that confirms the TCU’s support for the proposed project.
Power Connector Now Available to Support Prize Teams
Positive Deviancy is available to support all TCU student teams in applying for this prize. As a Power Connector, Positive Deviancy can offer free support such as templates, guidance, and meeting times. Send an email to Jade@PositiveDeviancy.com as soon as possible for assistance.
Check out the TCU Quick Start Guide to help get your Phase 1 submission across the finish line and be sure to follow the prize and check out the Updates page for the latest news and tips!
Webinar Recording: TCUs Planning for Clean Energy Transition
Learn More About the $5 Million Funding Opportunity Announcement
 While student teams are focused on the TCU prize, we hope faculty and staff are making progress on applications for the TCUs Planning for Clean Energy Transition funding opportunity!
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expects to make approximately $5 million of federal funding available for new awards under this funding opportunity announcement, making approximately 15 to 35 awards ranging from $100,000 to $350,000.
Applications are due by Dec. 18, 2024.
The informational webinar recording and slides are now available and include details about the funding opportunity and how to apply.
Eligible clean energy planning activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Strategic energy planning
- Energy options analysis
- Energy audits
- Developing an energy organization or office
- Climate resiliency planning
- Establishing energy policy, regulations, or codes
- Obtaining skills and training related to energy use, development, or management.
No recipient cost share is required.
News and Resources
Navajo Technical University Joins Solar Decathlon 2025 Design Challenge
 Congratulations to Navajo Technical University for joining 122 worldwide teams in the DOE Solar Decathlon® 2025 Design Challenge!
The Design Challenge encourages collegiate teams to create energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable building designs that meet community needs through affordable upgrades, existing building retrofits, resiliency improvements, and more.
Design Challenge teams will present their residential or commercial building designs at the virtual semifinal competition event in February 2025. Selected finalist teams will then compete in person or virtually during the final competition event, hosted at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, on April 25–27, 2025.
This year’s teams represent 19 countries and 27 states/districts, with 25 new collegiate institutions and 68 returning institutions.
View the full announcement to learn more.
Now Available! BRIDGES Bioenergy 101 Virtual Workshop Recordings and Presentations
 The Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES) hosted a BRIDGES Bioenergy 101 Virtual Workshop on Oct. 17, 2024. Educators were introduced to bioenergy national laboratory research that can be integrated into classrooms.
The workshop focused on the Regional Feedstocks: Are They the Answer to Achieving a Net Zero Future? case study, which evaluates regional biomass and waste resources for conversion to transportation biofuels.
View the presentation recording and slides to learn more!
Discover Science: Applications Open for Summer 2025 Undergraduate Internships
Students and recent grads may apply to conduct research and technical projects at national laboratories.
 Christina Bonner, a student at Savannah River-Augusta University in Georgia, during a poster session while a SULI intern. Photo from Christina Bonner.
On Oct. 16, DOE opened applications for the Summer 2025 term of the Office of Science’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program and the Community College Internships (CCI) programs, open to all current and recent college undergraduates.
These stipend-based, 10-week programs provide technical training and research opportunities at DOE national laboratories and other facilities. Interns will learn about science and technology careers, team science, networking, and gain the experience needed to transition from internship to employment.
The application deadline for both programs is Jan. 8, 2025.
Applicant Workshops and Summer Internship Fair
Prospective SULI and CCI applicants are invited to learn more during the alumni workshop.
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.
EnergyTech University Prize 2025 – Student and Faculty Tracks
$400,000 in student prizes; $100,000 in faculty prizes
Faculty deadline Jan. 13; Student deadline Feb. 3, 2025.
Sponsored by the DOE Office of Technology Transitions, the American-Made EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) challenges student teams to compete for cash prizes for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization. Faculty are challenged to create innovative implementation plans that expand energy technology commercialization.
Informational webinars:
Clean Energy Careers for All
$3 million
Phase 1 submissions due Dec. 13, 2024.
This opportunity will award nearly $3 million to nonprofit educational organizations to support programs that promote awareness and interest in clean energy careers among K–12 and university students, alumni and academic professionals, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
DOE will accept applications for new or expanded workforce development programs in key clean energy sectors, including renewable energy, building energy efficiency, energy storage, advanced materials and manufacturing, and electric vehicles, among others.
Events
Science Undergraduate Laboratory and Community College Internships Alumni Workshop
📅 Dec. 3 | 2–3 p.m. ET
Prospective applicants for the SULI program and the CCI program are invited to learn more ahead of the Summer 2025 internship application deadline.
34th Annual BIA Tribal Provider’s Conference
📅 Dec. 3–5 | Anchorage, Alaska
The 34th annual BIA Tribal Provider’s Conference is scheduled for Dec. 3–5, 2024, at the Dena’ina Center in downtown Anchorage.
EnergyTech University Prize 2025 Webinars
📅 Dec. 10 and Jan. 23 | 1 p.m. ET
These 1-hour webinars cover important details for the 2025 round of the EnergyTech University Prize. Students and faculty alike will learn more about key prize details, important dates, submission materials, and more. Plus, stay for the live Q&A to ask your lingering questions.
Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy & Sustainability 7th Annual Conference
📅 Jan. 27–29 | Hollywood, Florida
This conference will focus on the newly changing landscape for Tribal energy development and sustainability, including best practices, federal leadership, policy and regulatory changes, funding a project, and project planning/development trends.
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