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Office of Indian Energy News

Dec. 16, 2025

Welcome to the monthly Office of Indian Energy newsletter! In each issue, we share the latest Tribal energy news, funding, events, and opportunities.

Office Updates

COMING SOON: Energy & Minerals Partnerships for Academic-Industry Career Training

The Energy & Minerals Partnerships for Academic-Industry Career Training (EMPACT) opportunity will enhance the nation’s capacity for a highly skilled energy workforce to help establish America’s energy dominance. Up to $11.3 million will be available to institutions of higher education (trade and vocational schools, colleges, and universities), of which up to $2.3 million will be exclusively for Tribal colleges and universities. Awards will facilitate the development of hands-on training and credentialing programs for skill sets supporting the natural gas, oil, coal, and critical minerals industries by establishing regional academic-industry consortia.

EMPACT is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office and Office of Indian Energy.

News

TODAY! Join the Discussion on America’s Mineral Security Workforce

TODAY, Dec. 16, 2025, from 1–4 p.m. ET, DOE invites you to join a national dialogue on Fortifying the Workforce for America’s Mineral Security. This virtual event will bring together various groups and individuals to address how to strengthen education and workforce development efforts to meet the urgent demand for a skilled and abundant domestic critical minerals and materials supply chain workforce.

The virtual event will spotlight DOE’s current and upcoming efforts to build a strong critical minerals and materials workforce, share perspectives from educators and innovators driving progress in this field, and invite a broader community of workforce partners to join the conversation and help amplify these efforts nationwide, while also informing opportunities for potential collaboration with other federal agencies.

Register to join the discussion.

Available Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities

The following opportunities are available to federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, Intertribal organizations (including Tribal consortia), Tribal energy development organizations, and Tribal colleges and universities. We encourage interested Tribes to confirm the program availability, eligibility, and resources shared below by reaching out to the points of contact directly. View the full list of funding and technical assistance opportunities on the Office of Indian Energy website.

• Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants
• Improving Efficiency, Reliability, and Flexibility of Coal-Based Power Plants
• 2026 Executive Energy Leadership Academy
• Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund.

Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Applications due Dec. 31

Provides nonprofits with technical assistance and training on water and waste problems; helps prepare applications; and helps associations improve the operation and maintenance of water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.

Improving Efficiency, Reliability, and Flexibility of Coal-Based Power Plants

Submissions due Jan. 7

Accepting applications for projects to design, implement, test, and validate three opportunities for strategic refurbishment/retrofit of existing coal power plants. Successful projects will lead to the implementation of transformational technologies that will significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and reliability of coal and natural gas use.

2026 Executive Energy Leadership Academy (National Laboratory of the Rockies)

Applications due Jan. 9

The Executive Energy Leadership Academy, hosted by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), formerly known as NREL, provides energy industry professionals and community leaders with exclusive, in-depth information about the laboratory’s research and programs so they can better design energy technologies at their organizations. Participants travel to NLR's main campus in Golden, Colorado, for four multiday sessions held June–September.

There is no cost to participate in the program; however, participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (U.S. Department of Transportation)

Submissions due Jan. 15

Supports the development of strategic transportation safety plans to determine how transportation safety needs will be addressed in and around Tribal communities. Eligible projects include developing and updating transportation safety plans; safety data assessment, improvement, and analysis; infrastructure improvements; and more.

Regards,
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
1000 Independence Ave. SW | Washington, D.C. 20585

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