Administered by the Grid Deployment Office, the Tribal Nation Transmission Program was developed to support the engagement of Tribal Nations in activities related to the planning and development of electricity transmission. This technical assistance program was created in direct response to Tribal input. It offers capacity building through educational resources, training, and on-call assistance from technical experts and researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The program will also provide funding to mitigate the financial burden of Tribal participation in key transmission forums. Funding for this program is partially provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.
This program has three offerings: Educational Resources, Technical Support, and Participation Support.
Educational Resources
Understanding the fundamentals of energy planning and development is key for Tribes to participate in related activities. Tribal members are invited to attend educational events and webinars that may cover topics such as transmission topologies, available technologies and the supply chain, siting and permitting, interconnection processes, and cultural and environmental impacts. These educational resources offer broad, foundational knowledge that equips Tribes with the necessary background to engage in transmission planning and development discussions.
Webinar slides and recordings, virtual trainings, and Grid Deployment Office presentations at national Tribal forums will be made available.
Technical Support
Transmission and energy project planning—especially information collection—can be daunting. Technical Support allows Tribal members to consult with national laboratory experts to leverage expertise and resources for their projects.
To request Technical Support, provide the information below in an email to [email protected]:
- Name.
- Tribe or Tribal organization.
- Email.
- Phone number.
- A concise description of the technical assistance being requested.
- Applicable background information relevant to this request (energy goals, locations, past studies).
- Time constraints (If none, state "no constraints").
Tribes should expect a response to their inquiry within two working days. Following an initial consultation, Tribes will begin to receive individualized information from an expert in the form of data, modeling and analysis support, policy and regulatory review, and more.
Applications will be reviewed for program eligibility and availability of funds.
Participation Support
Tribal perspectives need to be represented and heard in planning efforts, but inadequate financial resources can be a barrier to participation. Through this program, Tribal members can request funding to attend transmission events. Eligible events may include those hosted by federal or state agencies and/or national laboratories, such as federal permitting and siting meetings, as well as environmental review forums.
To request Participation Support, provide the information below in an email to [email protected].
- Name.
- Tribe or Tribal organization.
- Email.
- Phone number.
- What event(s) would you like to participate in? Provide title, date, location, and/or registration page link.
- How will participating in this event increase your understanding of and/or engagement in transmission?
Applications will be reviewed based on program eligibility and availability of funds.
Participation support requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event to qualify for reimbursement.
Contact [email protected] with questions about this program.