Energy Department Expands Technical Assistance for Tribal Energy Projects

The Energy Department on January 30 announced the second round of the Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) Program, which provides federally recognized Tribal governments with technical assistance to accelerate clean energy project deployment. Additionally, the Energy Department plans to seek information from tribes interested in launching or expanding utility services in their own communities, which will help establish a new START Utility Program (START-UP). Additional details on this effort will be available on the Office of Indian Energy website in the coming weeks.

Over the past year, the START program has helped nine Tribal communities advance their clean energy technology and infrastructure projects, from solar and wind to biofuels and energy efficiency. The second round of technical assistance awards will build upon the initial successes of the START program and further help Native American and Alaska Native communities increase local generation capacity, enhance energy-efficiency measures, and create local entrepreneurial and job opportunities. In the contiguous United States, Energy Department and national laboratory experts will provide technical assistance on tribes' clean energy project development. In Alaska, the Energy Department and the Denali Commission will help rural Alaska Native communities conduct energy awareness and training programs and pursue new renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities. Applications are due by March 15, 2013. See the Energy Department press release and the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs webpage.

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Energy Department Issues Tribal Renewable Energy Guidance

The Energy Department on December 5 announced two new initiatives aimed at driving increased renewable energy production and sustainable economic development in Indian Country. As part of the Energy Department's efforts to support tribal renewable energy production, the Department issued a policy statement and guidance that gives preference to Indian tribes when its facilities contract to purchase renewable energy products or by-products based on authorities under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Energy Department also announced new training and education resources to help Tribal Nations advance local renewable energy project financing and development.

The Department's Office of Indian Energy Policy and the Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently issued an updated estimate of the renewable energy potential on Indian lands. While American Indian land comprises about 2% of all U.S. land, this analysis found that Indian lands contain 5% of total U.S. renewable energy resource potential, including high generation potential for solar, wind, and hydropower, among other renewable resources. See the Energy Department press release.

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