Tribal Energy Access

What Energy Access Challenges Do Tribes and Alaska Native Villages Face? 

DOE’s Tribal Electricity Access and Reliability Report to Congress found that Tribal households across the nation face an energy burden 28% above average, while an estimated 17,000 Tribal homes have no electricity, impacting 54,000 people. Additionally, Tribal communities face 6.5 times more electricity outages per year than the national average.

Additionally, the report found throughout Indian Country, Tribal communities have critical needs for electrical infrastructure investments and resource asset development, and unmet needs continue to grow for project grant funding, technical expertise, and internal capacity building.

How is the Department of Energy Investing in Affordable Energy Access for Tribes?

Installing new energy technologies on Tribal lands, along with energy efficiency improvements, can significantly reduce energy costs for Tribes and individual Tribal households.  

Since 2010, the DOE Office of Indian Energy has invested over $190 million in more than 240 Tribal energy projects, affecting nearly 11,000 Tribal buildings. It is estimated these clean energy projects will collectively save communities nearly $530 million over the life of systems with $3.29 saved for every DOE dollar invested.  

Additionally, DOE has awarded Tribes tens of millions of dollars through grants, loan guarantees, and technical assistance support through other programs focused on rural and underserved communities. These include the $8 million Energizing Rural Hopi and Navajo with Solar Powered Battery-Based Systems project which plans to reduce energy burden and electrify 300 Hopi and Navajo homes by installing 2.5 kW off-grid solar PV and battery storage systems, and the $5 million Permanent, High-Quality Clean Energy Access for Rural Indigenous Communities project which plans to install a total of 568 kW of solar PV and 1,768 kWh of battery energy storage systems on up to 350 off-grid homes across Navajo Nation.

How Can Tribes Access Federal Funding for Energy Access Projects? 

Tribes can access DOE funding opportunities through competitive grants and cooperative agreements, noncompetitive formula funding, and loans, in addition to technical assistance and capacity building opportunities.  

Search for current funding opportunities for Tribes from DOE and other agencies.