|
|
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) is thrilled to share our inaugural Powering Tribal Nations newsletter with audiences across the United States. Each month, subscribers can expect updates on resources, funding opportunities and awards, case studies, and success stories directly affecting and for Tribal nations.
Charging Forward Rural Toolkit
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) developed Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure for rural communities interested in understanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
National Electric Vehicle (EV) Initiative for Tribal Nations
In 2023, members of the National EV Initiative for Tribal Nations collaborated to ensure Tribes have a quick, efficient way to identify EV and EV charging funding opportunities, locate resources, and view project examples for Tribal communities. These resources are meant not only to help Tribes connect with federal funding, but also to connect with other Tribal communities to share knowledge in implementing electric transportation projects.
|
|
|
-
The Chilkoot Indian Association in Alaska will receive $1.4 million in Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) awards to construct an EV charging site located on Haines Highway near a local park, cruise ship terminal, oceanfront pathways, and biking trails. In a community that faces a high cost of living, severe weather, and extreme geographic isolation, this project supports sustainable community economic development and renewable transportation resiliency.
-
San Carlos Apache Tribal Council in Arizona will receive $500,000 in CFI awards to install four EV charging station sites within the reservation and one additional station in Safford. The project will benefit the San Carlos, Peridot, and Bylas communities by providing healthier air quality, creating positive environmental impacts, stimulating the local economy, and providing necessary services.
-
The Eastern Band of Cherokee in North Carolina was awarded a $5 million Clean School Bus grant. The funds will be used for charging infrastructure and the purchase of 15 electric school buses.
-
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan received a $4 million Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Tribal Climate Resilience award to carry out the Gun Lake Tribe Electric Infrastructure Implementation Project. Funds will be used to purchase various EVs and install solar infrastructure on the Tribal government’s campus.
-
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas celebrated the arrival of six EVs and the installation of an EV charging station at Sitting Bull College. The charging station is part of a larger project crossing the Upper Midwest and is funded in part by a $6.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office.
|
|
Tribal EV Funding Opportunities
-
Energy and Mineral Development Program Grant, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Energy and Mineral Development. This opportunity includes financial assistance to evaluate the energy and mineral resource development potential of Tribal lands. Activities may include resource assessments, feasibility studies, engineering design, and more. Work relevant to EVs may include analyzing the impact of new electrical loads on the existing utility grid and designing distributed electric generation/storage assets for EV charging networks. Applications due May 24, 2024.
-
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. REAP provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy systems to offset costs associated with agricultural production and processing. Although Tribal governments are not directly eligible, Section 17 corporations, Tribally owned corporations and enterprises that qualify as small businesses, Tribal agriculture operations, and Tribal member-owned businesses are eligible for assistance under this program. Eligible applicants may utilize the program to assist with installing EV charging stations and other EV-related projects as part of renewable energy system improvements. 2024 applications due quarterly; June 30, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2024.
-
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE), USDOT Office of the Under Secretary for Policy. This discretionary grant program provides an opportunity for USDOT to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that achieve national objectives. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors at the state and local levels to obtain funding for multimodal, multijurisdictional projects that are more difficult to support through traditional USDOT programs. In FY 2021, RAISE expanded program eligibility to include zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. FY 2025 applications are due Jan. 13, 2025.
-
Tribal Electrification Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED). This funding is for clean energy household electrification that will benefit Tribal communities in the United States. OIED will select Tribal communities that are in stages ranging from early planning to already implementing plans and actions for household electrification. Successful applications will be limited to projects directly related to the planning and implementation of electrification through: (1) the provision of electricity to unelectrified Tribal homes through zero-emissions energy systems; (2) transitioning electrified Tribal homes to zero-emissions energy systems; and/or (3) associated home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install and prepare for zero-emissions energy systems. Notice of funding opportunity opened May 1, 2024. Application period will close June 30, 2024.
-
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Tribal and Insular Area Grants, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Transportation and Air Quality. EPA is authorized under DERA to offer funding assistance to accelerate the upgrade, retrofit, and turnover of the legacy diesel fleet. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles and equipment with EPA and California Air Resources Board certified engine configurations, and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. Notice of funding opportunity opens spring 2024.
-
Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA), Joint Office and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The CBPA program reduces barriers to zero-emission bus deployment by providing school and transit bus fleets with free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans. CBPA connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts to support planning for bus electrification. Fleets also have the option to receive free deployment assistance from NREL at the completion of their plan. CBPA is not an incentive program, and fleets do not receive direct funding—rather, selected applicants will be allocated technical assistance resources by NREL. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
|
|
Upcoming EV-Related Events
|
|
About the Joint Office
The Joint Office is a collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation to support the buildout of a nationwide network of electric vehicle chargers, zero-emission fueling infrastructure, and zero-emission transit and school buses. Learn more at DriveElectric.gov. It is facilitating the adoption of electrified transportation in collaboration with Tribal Nations by providing comprehensive technical assistance and resources.
Sign up to receive regular communications about Joint Office vacancy announcements, webinars, news, funding opportunities, and thought leadership pieces on creating a future where everyone can ride and drive electric.
For more updates, follow the Joint LinkedIn.
|
|
|
|
|
