Department of Energy: Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands – 2018

The Department of Energy’s(DOE’s)Office of Indian Energy is charged by Congress under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act of 2005 (Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005, Title V, § 502, codified at 42 USC § 7144e and 25 USC § 3501 et seq.), to “provide, direct, foster, coordinate, and implement energy planning, education, management, conservation, and delivery programs that –

(1) Promote Indian tribal energy development, efficiency, and use;
(2) Reduce and stabilize energy costs;
(3) Enhance and strengthen Indian tribal energy and economic infrastructure relating to natural resource development and electrification; and
(4) Bring electric power and service to Indian land and homes for tribal members located on Indian lands or acquired, constructed, or improved (in whole or in part) with Federal funds.” 42 USC § 7144e(b).

Through this planned Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy will be continuing its efforts to maximize the deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives and help build the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to implement those energy solutions.

Specifically, DOE’s Office of Indian Energy may solicit applications from Indian Tribes including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations (hereafter referred to as “Indian Tribe”) and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations to:

(1) Install energy efficiency measures and/or energy generating system(s) for Tribal Buildings (Area of Interest 1);
(2) Deploy community-scale energy generating system(s) on Tribal lands (Area of Interest 2);
(3) Install energy system(s) for autonomous operation to power a single or multiple essential tribal loads for a short period of time during an emergency situation or for long-term tribal community resilience. (Area of Interest 3).

DOE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards in the form of grants. The estimated period of performance for each award will be approximately from one (1) to two (2) years, but no longer than three (3) years (including the 12-month energy savings verification period for Area of Interest 1).

This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of the DOE’s intention to issue this FOA in the near term. All of the information contained in this Notice is subject to change. DOE will not respond to questions concerning this Notice. However, once the FOA has been released, DOE will provide an avenue for potential Applicants to submit questions.

DOE’s Office of Indian Energy plans to issue the FOA on or about December 2017 or January 2018 via the EERE Exchange website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/). If Applicants wish to receive official notifications and information regarding this FOA, they should register in EERE Exchange. When the FOA is released, applications will be accepted only through EERE Exchange. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH THIS NOTICE.