Department of Energy: Funding Opportunity for Clean Energy Projects on Indian Lands

The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (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 Office of Indian Energy will be continuing its efforts to maximize the development and 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, the Office of Indian Energy intends to solicit applications from Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations) and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations to:

(1) Install clean energy and energy efficiency retrofit projects for tribal buildings (Area of Interest 1); and,

(2) Deploy clean energy systems on a community-scale (Area of Interest 2).

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).

DOE anticipates making awards that range from $50,000 to $500,000 for Area of Interest 1 (Tribal Building Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Retrofits) and from $250,000 to $1,000,000 for Area of Interest 2 (Community-Scale Clean Energy Deployment).

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.

The Office of Indian Energy plans to issue the FOA, DE-FOA-0001660: “Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects on Indian Lands – 2016” November 2016 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.