Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy, provide grant, loan, and technical assistance programs to support tribal energy projects. Find information about past funding opportunities.
Office of Indian Energy Funding Opportunities
Deployment of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy on Indian Lands
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy has issued a new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $6 million to install energy efficiency measures and deploy clean energy systems on Indian lands.
The Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian tribes (including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations) and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations to:
- Install energy efficiency measures and clean energy systems on tribal buildings
and/or - Deploy clean energy systems on a community-scale.
In this instance, an eligible “Indian Tribe” (including Alaska Native villages) must be federally recognized as listed in Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. Applications may also be submitted on behalf of an Indian Tribe(s) by an authorized Tribal Organization or Inter-Tribal Organization, provided evidence of that authority is provided as part of the application.
The intended results of the 50% cost shared projects selected under this FOA are immediate cost savings, reduced energy use, and increased energy security for Indian tribes, Alaskan Native villages, and tribal members.
The application deadline is Feb. 7, 2017. Learn more and apply.
An informational webinar was held Dec. 1, 2016, to provide potential applicants with information on the FOA. In addition to describing the FOA in detail, presenters discussed who is eligible to apply, what an application needs to include, cost share and other requirements, how to ask questions, and how applications will be selected for funding. View the webinar video and presentation.
Current Funding Opportunities
| Close Date | Organization | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| 01/06/2017 | U.S. Economic Development Administration |
Small-Scale Manufacturing and Place-Based Economic Development Technical Assistance, Smart Growth America Eligible entities include regional, local, or tribal government, as well as nonprofits and non-governmental organizations. |
| 01/09/2017 | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
National Conservation Innovation Grants Eligible applicants include state, county, local, special district, and tribal governments; nonprofits and for-profit organizations; small businesses; and individuals. |
| 01/17/2017 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Region 10 Tribal Environmental GAP Funding The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals from federally recognized tribal governments and intertribal consortia for work to be completed in fiscal year 2018. The goal of GAP is to assist tribes in building capacity to administer tribal environmental programs consistent with the federal laws the EPA is charged with implementing, according to their individual needs. Funding amounts will vary from $75,000–$128,000. |
| 01/18/2017 | AmeriCorps |
2017 AmeriCorps State and National Grants Eligible entities include state, local, county, special district, and tribal governments; independent school districts; nonprofits; and public housing authorities. |
| 01/20/2017 | Alaska Housing Finance Corporation |
Energy Efficiency Kickstarter Competitive Award For any questions on submissions, please email rjordan@ahfc.us or 907-330-8115 by January 10. Applications are due January 20 at 4:30 p.m. Anchorage Time. |
| 01/31/2017 | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
Rural Energy for America Program - Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants Eligible areas include businesses must be in an area other than a city or town with a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area of that city or town. Eligible applicants include agricultural producers and rural small businesses, which may include tribal business entities, rural electric cooperatives and public power entities. |
| 01/31/2017 | EPA |
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Eligible applicants must be one of the following entities: incorporated, non-proft, community-based organizations, federally organized tribal governments, and tribal organizations. |
| 02/01/2017 | U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. |
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities seeks applications for the 2017 Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program. The goal is to accelerate strategic protection of healthy, freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds. Funding ranges from $50,000 to $300,000. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, for-profit companies, tribes, intertribal consortia, interstates, state, and local government agencies, including water utilities and wastewater facilities, and colleges and universities. |
| 02/07/2017 | Office of Indian Energy | Deployment of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy on Indian Lands
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy announced the issuance of a new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $6 million to install energy efficiency measures and deploy clean energy systems on Indian lands. The Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian tribes (including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations) and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations to:
In this instance, an eligible “Indian Tribe” (including Alaska Native villages) must be federally recognized as listed in Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. Applications may also be submitted on behalf of an Indian Tribe(s) by an authorized Tribal Organization or Inter-Tribal Organization, provided evidence of that authority is provided as part of the application. The intended results of the 50% cost shared projects selected under this FOA are immediate cost savings, reduced energy use, and increased energy security for Indian tribes, Alaskan Native villages, and tribal members. |
| 02/17/2017 | EPA |
National Indoor Environments Program: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants EPA is accepting applications for demonstration, training, outreach, and/or education projects that seek to reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants. Projects must have a national-scale impact and must yield measurable environmental outcomes. |
| 2/22/2017 | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) |
Deep Direct-Use Feasibility Studies DOE's Geothermal Technologies Offices is accepting applications to conduct feasibility studies of large-scale, low-temperature deep-well geothermal systems coupled with advanced direct-use applications and cascaded surfacce technologies whose applications will extend the reach of geothermal into geologically distinct parts of the country. This FOA will solicit applications that propose projects supporting DDU feasibility studies in two Topic Areas:
Eligible applicants include for-profit entities, education institutions, state, local, and tribal governments, and nonprofits. |
| 03/17/2017 | DOE |
Solar in Your Community Challenge The SunShot Prize: Solar in Your Community Challenge is a prize competition that aims to expand eletricity access to all Americansespecially underserved segments such as low- and moderate-income (LMI) households state, local, and tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations. Competing teams need to design and deploy new and scalable business and financial models through the demonstration of solar projects and programs in their communities. These projects and programs must directly benefit:
Photovoltaic (PV) systems must be completed during the 18-month performance period and should aggregate between 25 and 5,000 kilowatts (peak DC capacity). A single entity cannot not be assigned more than 1,000 kilowatts from a single solar energy system. |
| 09/30/2017 | U.S. Department of the Interior |
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Coastal Program Eligible entities include state, local, and tribal governments. |
Ongoing Opportunities
This list provides information on technical assistance, funding, and renewable energy credits for tribal energy projects from a variety of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and federal government programs. To explore current opportunities available to tribes, click on the titles of the solicitations below.
NC GreenPower Open RFP for Carbon Offsets and RECs
NC GreenPower is seeking proposals for projects that mitigate greenhouse gases; projects that reduce emissions indirectly from displaced electricity are not eligible. Priority will be given to purchasing carbon offsets from participating utility service territories in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
In addition, NC GreenPower is accepting bids for renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with renewable energy generated in North Carolina and supplied to the North Carolina electric grid. These bids provide NC GreenPower with a portfolio of available renewable energy projects to offer to NC GreenPower customers who purchase $15,000 or more annually on renewable energy credits (called a Brokered Bid). This is an ongoing, open-bid process for the Brokered Bid product only and includes any eligible renewable energy project, including large solar PV (over 5.0 kW) and large wind (over 10.0 kW).
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Assistance Program (EDA) is accepting applications to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects. Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. Eligible applicants include nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribes), federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS.
USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Eligible areas including cities, villages, townships, and towns, including tribal lands, with no more than 20,000 residents. Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and/or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment, and pay related expenses.
USDA Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
USDA is accepting applications for Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Assistance (EA REDA) grants to eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses. These grants help promote American energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy and decreasing the demand for energy through energy efficiency improvements. Eligible projects include energy audits, renewable energy technical assistance, and renewable energy site assessments.
Eligible entities include state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, rural electric cooperatives, public power entities, resource conservation and development councils, and land-grant colleges or universities.
DOE Office of Indian Technical Assistance
The DOE Office of Indian Energy provides federally recognized Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native villages, tribal energy resource development organizations, and other organized tribal groups and communities, with technical assistance to advance tribal energy projects.
Technical experts from DOE, DOE's national laboratories, and others are available to provide up to 40 hours of in-depth support, including strategic energy planning and project development support.
The goal of the technical assistance is to address a specific challenge or fulfill a specific need that is essential to a current project's successful implementation. The intended result is a tangible product or specific deliverable designed to help move the project forward.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation Grants
The Indian Land Tenure Foundation has several grants available for tribes focusing on education, cultural awareness, economic opportunity, or legal reform. The Foundation creates grants to Indian nations and nonprofit organizations, and work closely with several affiliate organizations, who share our mission and goals.
USDA Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications to assist rural communities that have experienced a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water due to an emergency, or in which such decline is considered imminent, to obtain or maintain adequate quantities of water that meets the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This emergency is considered an occurrence of an incident such as, but not limited to, a drought, earthquake, flood, tornado, hurricane, disease outbreak, or chemical spill.
DOI Indian Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and Interest Subsidy Program
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development is accepting loan applications on an ongoing basis through the Indian Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and Interest Subsidy Program. Operated by 12 Bureau of Indian Affairs regional offices cross the country in coordination with the Division of Capital Investment in Washington, D.C., the program is aimed at spurring the development of viable Indian businesses through conventional lender financing. Tribes or individuals simply apply for a loan through any lender that regularly engages in making loans; in cases where the lending institution would not otherwise approve a borrower’s loan application, the lender may apply for a loan guaranty. By helping reduce the risk incurred by lenders, the program helps borrowers secure financing that might otherwise be unavailable. Eligible entities include federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native groups.p>
IRS Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
The Internal Review Service (IRS) is accepting applications for a volume cap of up to $800 million to finance the costs of a qualified renewable energy facility or facilities, such as wind, closed- or open-loop biomass, geothermal, solar, small irrigation, and other facilities. The application must indicate the expected date of construction and when each facility will be placed in service. Eligible applicants include governmental bodies, including Tribes, and cooperative electric companies.
USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) incentives will resume this summer. The incentives will assist farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners with growing, maintaining, and harvesting biomass that can be used for energy or bio-based products. Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners can also receive financial assistance to grow biomass crops that will be converted into energy in selected BCAP project areas. New BCAP project area proposals will be solicited beginning this summer and accepted through fall 2015, with new project area announcements and enrollments taking place in early spring 2016. Once the call for solicitations is announced, Tribes will need to review the eligibility to ensure they qualify.
