Meet Our Team: Mike Stevenson, Lead General Engineer

Mike Stevenson joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy as an engineer in May 2021. Duty stationed in Golden, Colorado, he serves as the lead engineer and oversees all of the technical assistance the Office provides to Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Tribal and intertribal organizations.

Tell us a little about your role with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy.

I am the lead engineer with the Office of Indian Energy, and I have the pleasure of overseeing all the technical assistance the Office provides to Tribes across the 48 contiguous United States and Alaska. 

What do you find most inspiring or motivating about your work?

I get to talk to folks about their energy needs daily and help them determine a pathway from their current state to their future vision. It is incredibly inspiring when I see a Tribe develop a project that a few years ago simply started with technical assistance and a vision. Real project development builds upon the work we get to do, and I’m very proud to play a very small role in that. 

What do you see as the greatest challenges and opportunities in Tribal energy development?

Access to market continues to be a challenge. The resource is typically well-known and proven, but interconnection and the policies of the incumbent utility(s) prevent impactful projects from coming online. Tribes can have tremendous leverage over their energy provider, but understanding this potential leverage requires considerable legal review. There are resources available, including assistance from our Office, but this remains both a great challenge and a tremendous opportunity [when it comes] to Tribal clean energy deployment. 

How do you think DOE support and funding are impacting Tribal energy development?

I think DOE support and funding are greatly impacting Tribal energy development—especially in this current funding environment. I think we can continue to do better, and I’m blessed to be on a team of folks who understand this. We push ourselves to be relevant and improve our services and offerings continuously. 

Tell us about one of your favorite Tribal energy projects you’ve worked on and why.

My favorite energy project is the next one I’m going to talk about with someone. I feel very blessed to get to do what I love, and I love talking energy with Tribes and helping them determine the best path forward given their goals and priorities and the resources available. There are lots of potential projects on the horizon—no shortage of upcoming conversations. 

What do you think the future of energy looks like in Indian Country and Alaska?

I think the future is bright, quite literally, as we continue to get some of the unelectrified areas of our country illuminated. I think Tribes are beginning to understand the full extent to which they can regulate energy services on their lands and what that means for their sovereignty. I am excited to see what the future holds and play a very small role in supporting Tribes as they work to achieve their long-term energy visions. 

When you’re not at work, what activities or hobbies do you enjoy?

I try to go to the gym daily. That’s my meditation—more for my brain than my body. I love mountain bike riding around the foothills of Colorado, where I live with my two daughters and two dogs. My kids and I enjoy taking the pups for a nightly walk around a nearby lake when the weather permits. Mostly, I try to enjoy the company of my teenage daughters, as I know my time with them in the house is limited and will go very quickly!