They’re equally important, but in this blog post I’m going to focus on the Deployment Program.
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
July 19, 2016
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I’m driven by a critical mission: to maximize the development and deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Our blueprint for fulfilling this mission has three programmatic pillars: Deployment, Innovation, and Policy. They’re equally important, but in this blog post I’m going to focus on the Deployment Program.
The dictionary definition of “deploy” is “to organize and send out (people or things) to be used for a particular purpose.” And that’s exactly what the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy does under our Deployment Program. We align technical assistance, training, and funding to tribes and Alaska Native villages to realize their visions of harnessing indigenous renewable energy resources, reducing their energy costs, creating jobs, building resilience, and implementing successful strategic energy solutions.
Energy is foundational to all of the systems and infrastructure needed to support strong and economically sovereign tribal nations. Since my appointment in May 2015, I’ve visited numerous tribal communities throughout Indian Country and Alaska to hear directly from tribal government leaders and witness successful delivery of our services. And I’m proud to lead a team of hard-working experts who are deeply dedicated to continue strengthening DOE’s foundation in Indian Country.
For nearly two decades, DOE engineers and analysts have worked together with tribal governments to identify and deploy innovative energy and infrastructure solutions that are key to Indian tribes’ ability to create stability, preserve a sustainable way of life, and improve the current quality of life in their communities. Through our on-request technical assistance, we respond to technical or market challenges that impede the progress of specific tribal energy projects. Combining proven technical expertise and project financing expertise with rigorous evaluation of outcomes and continual improvement of delivery strategies is fundamental to the success of the Deployment Program. And if demand is any indication of value, our Deployment Program delivers high value to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Where We're Headed with Technical Assistance
DOE to Provide Nearly $7 Million in Funding to Eight Regional Tribal Organizations
On that note, I’m pleased to announce that DOE has selected eight inter-tribal organizations and Alaska Regional Corporations to receive nearly $7 million in funding to develop and build their capacity to provide regional technical assistance to meet the needs of their member Indian tribes (including Alaska Native villages). The funding—which will help us expand our technical assistance network—is expected to be leveraged by nearly $1.2 million in tribal cost share. The projects competitively selected for negotiation of an award (in alphabetical order) are:
- Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Calista Corporation
- Kawerak, Inc.
- Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, Inc.
- NANA Regional Corporation
- Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference
- Tanana Chiefs Conference.
I look forward to seeing these organizations, which are already providing valuable services to their constituents, leverage the funding from DOE to maximize the deployment of energy solutions that can improve quality of life in tribal communities by reducing energy costs, enhancing human capacity, and creating job opportunities.
<p>The Office of Indian Energy has posted a <a href="https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/default.aspx#FoaIdb3acdd95-837c-4756-b… of Intent</a> to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled <strong>“First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands – 2016”</strong> in August or September 2016.</p><p>Through the planned FOA, 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:</p><ul><li>Conduct energy options analyses</li><li>Benchmark baseline energy use and efficiency options</li><li>Develop energy organizations</li><li>Conduct climate resiliency planning</li><li>Establish policy, regulations, and codes to reduce energy use or promote energy development</li><li>Obtain skills and training related to energy use and development.</li></ul><p>Part of a comprehensive strategy for maximizing the development and deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives, the planned FOA will complement the technical assistance the Office offers by providing funding to help tribal communities develop and sustain strategic energy solutions. </p>
Christopher Clark Deschene
Christopher Clark Deschene (Navajo Nation) is a former director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy. Mr. Deschene has more than 20 years of management and policy experience, along with extensive tribal relationships and deep expertise in business and energy development, natural resources, and environmental policies, federal Indian law, and government affairs.
He played a crucial role providing advice and support to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary for Science and Energy and program offices across the DOE complex to help fulfill the Department's mission of advancing the national, economic, and energy security of the United States through scientific and technological innovation.
Mr. Deschene is well regarded with tribal, state, and federal policy leaders and professionals, as well as industry and business leaders. Prior to this appointment, he spent 10 years as a partner with the Law Offices of Schaff & Clark Deschene, LLC. His experience extends to business and energy development on tribal, state, and federal lands. He has extensive knowledge of power generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy development, oil and gas development, utility formation, water, natural resource, energy and environmental policy development, tribal and federal administrative and regulatory permitting, energy contracting and negotiations. His practice has taken him across the United States and throughout Indian Country.
Previously, Mr. Deschene served with the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry and reconnaissance officer and completed his service as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He has served with distinction and completed two tours in the Persian Gulf, first with the infantry and second, with reconnaissance units. While on active duty, Mr. Deschene also served as a military research engineer with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Chris received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and a Master of Science and Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Concurrent with his master’s studies, Mr. Deschene earned a Juris Doctorate with a focus on federal Indian law and energy and natural resources law from Arizona State University. Mr. Deschene is licensed to practice law in Arizona and the Navajo Nation.