$44 Million for Clean Energy Planning & Deployment on Tribal Lands

Join daily news updates from CleanTechnica on electronic mail. Or follow us on Google News!

$18.8 Million Awarded to Six American Indian and Alaska Native Communities to Set up Price-Saving, Clear Power Infrastructure with an Further $25 Million in Funding Accessible for Future Planning and Improvement Initiatives on Tribal Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Division of Power (DOE) introduced immediately almost $44 million for Tribal communities to deploy clear vitality options that can carry vitality safety and resilience and assist decrease vitality prices. Six American Indian and Alaska Native communities situated in 5 states will obtain $18.8 million in funding to put in photo voltaic and wind vitality infrastructure which is able to present 5.6-megawatts (MW) of fresh vitality era and battery storage for over 100 Tribal buildings. An extra $25 million in funding will probably be made obtainable by a brand new funding alternative announcement for Tribal communities to plan, assess, and develop clear vitality initiatives. These investments carry our nation nearer to the Biden–Harris Administration’s objective to boost Tribal vitality sovereignty, whereas attaining an equitable clear vitality future.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the DOE has provided historic funding for Tribal communities and today’s announcement doubles down on our commitments to ensuring these communities remain in the driver’s seat as together we deploy clean, stable and affordable power to those that need it most,” stated U.S. Secretary of Power Jennifer M. Granholm. “Tribal Nations are helping to lead the way as we transition to build more cost-effective, stronger, and resilient communities for the future.”

The six cost-shared vitality initiatives chosen immediately are the results of a aggressive funding opportunity announcement released Feb. 27, 2024. By means of these grants, the DOE Workplace of Indian Power will proceed its efforts to advance Tribal vitality sovereignty and maximize the deployment of fresh, dependable, reasonably priced, and native vitality options. Collectively, these initiatives are estimated to lead to almost 5.6-MW of fresh vitality era and over 3.2-megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage, impacting over 100 Tribal buildings and saving these communities almost $54 million over the lifetime of these techniques. These investments will yield tangible outcomes yr after yr to enhance the standard of life for these underserved communities.

The initiatives competitively chosen for negotiation of award, in alphabetical order, are:

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, CA, will set up a cumulative of 551-kilowatts (kW) of photo voltaic photovoltaics (PV) and a 1,311-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery vitality storage system (BESS) on 5 important buildings, considerably enhancing grid resiliency, decreasing vitality prices, and selling environmental sustainability. It’s estimated that the techniques will save the Tribe $9.3 million over the lifetime of the techniques. (Award quantity: $4,376,448)
• Alaska Village Electrical Cooperative, Inc. will refurbish two 200-kW wind generators and set up a BESS, with an influence capability of 320-kW and storage capability of 540-kWh in Mekoryuk, AK. The initiatives will cut back energy prices and diesel gas use, enhance wind-generated energy by 94%, displace 41,360 gallons of diesel gas, cut back diesel generator operations by 3,830 hours per yr, convert extra wind era to warmth (offsetting 1,900 gallons of heating oil yearly), and is estimated to save lots of over $4.7 million over the lifetime of the techniques. (Award quantity: $2,205,332)
• Barona Group of the Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians in Lakeside, CA, will set up 2,300-kW of ground-mounted photo voltaic PV techniques to serve 4 important services. The challenge’s new PV capability is predicted to generate 5,686-MWh of electrical energy in Yr 1 to scale back the Band’s dependence on grid-supplied vitality, decreasing the Tribe’s electrical payments by greater than $31.2 million over the challenge’s 25-year lifetime. (Award quantity: $5,000,000)
• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Neighborhood, Prior Lake, MN, will deploy 5 photo voltaic PV techniques, totaling roughly 596-kW, on the rooftops of current buildings in Prior Lake, MN. The techniques will offset roughly 11% of the overall vitality utilization of the 5 vital buildings and help the Tribe’s long-term imaginative and prescient of being carbon-neutral by avoiding roughly 28,119,128 lbs. of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the techniques. (Award quantity: $1,258,799)
• United Tribes Technical Faculty, Bismark, ND, will set up 150-kW of photo voltaic PV and a 250-kW/1,376-kWh BESS on the Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Heart, a necessary Tribal constructing and emergency sheltering space on the campus of United Tribes Technical Faculty. The system is predicted to satisfy 42% of the typical annual vitality consumption; permit the Faculty to ascertain a revolving fund with the financial savings for use for operations and upkeep; and help further investments in clear vitality deployment, schooling, and coaching. (Award quantity: $2,198,863)
• Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Anadarko, OK, will set up 1,200-kW of photo voltaic PV to satisfy 36% of the vitality load of high-energy-consuming buildings in Hinton, OK, saving the Tribe an estimated $170,000 yearly and decreasing its carbon footprint by 33,047 metric tons per yr. As a step towards the Tribe’s long-term imaginative and prescient of attaining vitality self-sufficiency and sustainability, the challenge can be anticipated to supply 10 momentary development jobs and a pair of long-term positions. (Award quantity: $3,795,312)

By means of a brand new $25 million funding opportunity announcementthe DOE Workplace of Indian Power anticipates making roughly 20–40 awards that vary from $100,000 to $2,500,000 for initiatives that help the planning, evaluation, and growth of fresh vitality for Tribal buildings or on Tribal lands.

Purposes are due at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23, 2025. To be taught extra, be part of an informational webinar on Oct. 24, 2024.
In regards to the DOE Workplace of Indian Power

DOE funds all kinds of fresh vitality initiatives to help Tribes in realizing their vitality visions. From 2010 by 2024, DOE’s Workplace of Indian Power has invested over $190 million in additional than 240 Tribal vitality initiatives applied throughout the contiguous 48 states and in Alaska. These initiatives, valued collectively at over $300 million, are leveraged by greater than $125 million in recipient cost-share. Discover details about current funding opportunities and be taught extra on the DOE Office of Indian Energy website.

Media Inquiries: (202) 586-4940 or DOENews@hq.doe.gov

Learn extra on the energy.gov/Newsroom