DOE announces $3.6 million funding to boost collaboration with regional intertribal organizations; each can request up to $300,000 annually for 3 years to enhance clean energy efforts

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $3.6 million to increase collaboration with up to four non-profit regional intertribal organizations. The “Intertribal Organization Opportunity: Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement” funding opportunity is focused on enhancing outreach and engagement to improve federally recognized Tribes’ navigation and access to DOE clean energy funding and technical assistance.

Eligible non-profit regional intertribal organizations may request up to $300,000 annually for up to 3 years. Funding will support communication, internal organizational capacity-building, and engagement activities with the goal of building long-lasting effective working relationships between Tribal elected leaders and staff, and DOE.

Apply by 3:00 p.m. ET on Sept. 24, 2024.

For more information: 

• Review the eligibility criteria and types of activities supported by this funding. 
• RSVP for the Objective Strategy Session on Aug. 15, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. ET, which will include an overview of the program objectives and an opportunity to ask questions. 
• Attend the informational office hours session for potential applicants on Sept. 17, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. ET to ask additional questions.

This funding opportunity is managed by ENERGYWERX in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible with a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) through DOE's Office of Technology Transitions. This agreement enables ENERGYWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of clean energy solutions.

“Our office is excited to use the PIA funding mechanism for the first time,” said Office of Indian Energy Director Wahleah Johns. “This provides an opportunity to build partnerships with regional intertribal organizations and enhance DOE’s outreach and engagement efforts to better support Tribal Nations as they pursue their energy visions.”

Eligible organizations must:

• Be a coalition of two or more federally recognized Indian Tribes 
• Be established under Congressional, state, or Tribal law 
• Be governed by board members who are current elected Tribal government officials 
• Act at the direction of participating Tribes within a specific geographic region
• Qualify under Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), as a nonprofit organization
• Have a focus other than public health or gaming

Funding may support, but is not limited to, the following activities: 

• Collaboratively tracking and sharing DOE funding and technical assistance opportunities.
• Assisting in the assessment of member Tribes’ clean energy needs and interests and effectively connecting them to DOE programs and funding opportunities.
• Creating opportunities for dialogue among Tribes, the energy community, and DOE such as organizing conferences, workshops, events, and small group briefings to support Tribal collaboration and Tribe-to-Tribe learning and networking opportunities.
• Enhancing DOE Tribal engagement and communications activities with member Tribal governments by organizing regular engagement opportunities for DOE leadership and staff to communicate DOE energy policy and program information and opportunities during general session and breakout sessions.

This funding opportunity builds on the authorities granted to the DOE Office of Indian Energy under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technology on Tribal lands. In addition to the $75 million committed to Tribal energy projects selected in 2023, the Office of Indian Energy has invested over $120 million in Native communities across the contiguous 48 states and Alaska since 2010. These investments have resulted in more than 46 megawatts of new electricity generation installed—helping power more than 8,800 Tribal buildings and contributing meaningfully to the President’s Justice40 Initiative to provide 40% of the overall benefits of federal clean energy investments to disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.