Energy Department Invests Over $7 Million to Deploy Tribal Clean Energy

The Energy Department on November 14 announced that 9 tribal clean energy plans will gain in excess of $7 million. These awards will help American Indian and Alaska Native tribes deploy clean energy projects-saving these communities money, enhancing their energy security and creating new job and business opportunities. The projects, including biomass, energy efficiency, solar, and wind energy, will be in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, and Wisconsin.

Among the plans competitively selected to gain backing energy upgrades to refrigeration systems at the Benewah Market of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe in Plummer, Idaho, and an energy efficiency retrofit to the tribe's main office building of the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in Tribal Government in Fort Yukon, Alaska.

According to a recent study by the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, American Indian land comprises 2 % of the U.S. land, but contains an estimated 5 % of all U.S. renewable energy resources. Since 2002, the Energy Department's Tribal Energy Plan has invested nearly $42 million in 175 tribal clean energy projects, and in collaboration with the Department's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, provides financial and technical assistance to tribes for the evaluation and development of their renewable energy resources, implementation of energy efficiency to reduce energy use, and education and training to help build the knowledge and skills essential for sustainable energy projects. See the Energy Department press release.

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