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Seeking to reduce its reliance on imported diesel fuel and to lower operating costs, increase quality of life, and serve as a model of self-sufficiency for local youth and surrounding communities, Gwitchyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribe applied for and was awarded a $125,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Tribal Energy Program to supplement the tribe’s investment in a quarter-million-dollar energy efficiency and renewable energy project.

Cities like Boston and Minneapolis have identified ways to reduce their carbon footprint by as much as 80 percent by 2050.

A short interview with Brian Lipscomb, president and CEO of Energy Keepers, Inc., a tribal corporation established in the fall of 2012 to manage the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ (CSKT’s) planned acquisition of Kerr Dam.

President Obama's closing thoughts on his three-day journey in Alaska.

As members of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy’s technical assistance team, Sherry Stout and Jared Temanson of DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently traveled to the Native village of Rampart, Alaska, to fulfill the Tribe’s request for technical assistance with strategic energy planning.

We interviewed new Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene about his life, goals and years of experience working on tribal energy development.

In the tiny Native village of Oscarville, Alaska, state and federal agencies are joining forces to tackle tough challenges that are endemic to rural Alaska: high energy costs, unemployment, the changing climate, deteriorating and inefficient housing, and lack of infrastructure, to name just a few.

NPR interviewed Sandra-Begay Campbell, a Navajo tribal member who manages the Tribal Energy Program at DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories, about the technical and financial barriers associated with running transmission lines to remote, sparsely populated areas of Indian reservations.

Rachel Sullivan, Communications Lead for DOE Office of Indian Energy, writes about her experiences at the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe workshop.

The DOE Office of Indian Energy hosted a second round of tribal consultations and outreach meetings throughout Alaska in February and March to gather input on the National Strategy for the Arctic Region (NSAR).

Featured article in the Alaska Energy Pioneer Summer 2015 newsletter on the 2015 DOE Rural Utilities Study (RUS).

Feature article from the Summer 2015 edition of the Alaska Energy Pioneer on DOE's technical assistance requests in Alaska.

Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall recently traveled to Alaska, where she met with STEM students, toured an Arctic natural gas project, and met with other officials to discuss liquefied natural gas export projects.

The Alaska Energy Champions is a regular feature spotlighting pioneers of Alaska's new energy frontier.

Demand for solar energy continues to increase, but not every home or office can have its own solar installation. Many are opting to "share" solar, owning or leasing part of a solar array, as described in a new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

After a competitive application process, the Department of Energy designated 16 communities as Climate Action Champions, including two tribes: the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Michigan) and the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe (California). These tribes were selected for their local leadership in climate mitigation and adaptation.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory engineer Sherry Stout wrote about her experience in Alaska for the Native Village Renewable Energy Project Development workshops hosted by the Office of Indian Energy.

The State of Alaska’s Power Cost Equalization (PCE) Program is intended to “equalize” the cost of power for rural Alaskans through rate balancing that takes into account both the amount of funding spent on large energy infrastructure projects that benefit the urban “Railbelt” and Juneau electric utility customers and the procurement costs incurred by the 184 isolated diesel microgrid utilities scattered across rural Alaska.

Spotlight on David Pelunis-Messier, Alaska Energy Champion.

We wrapped up 2014 with an outstanding dialogue between DOE Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz and the tribal leaders of our DOE-sponsored energy working groups. Also at the end of the year, the new Under Secretary for Science and Energy, Dr. Franklin Orr, was sworn in to oversee several offices within DOE, including the DOE Office of Indian Energy.

In mid-February, I had the opportunity to attend the Alaska Forum on the Environment in Anchorage, Alaska. The conference was attended by over 1,500 people and included a film festival, poster sessions, keynote speeches, and dozens of presentations.

Spread over a vast area of the Upper Great Lakes, members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians live mainly in the seven easternmost counties of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Overall, they have nine housing sites, five casinos, and seven health centers.

Change doesn’t happen on its own. It’s led by dedicated and passionate people who are committed to empowering Indian Country to energize future generations. Leading the Charge is a regular feature spotlighting the movers and shakers in energy development on tribal lands.

Nestled in Northern California’s Mad River Valley between the coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the Blue Lake Rancheria is bordered by great forests and the California Redwood trees. It’s a sacred and hard-won swath of land for the Tribe that calls it home, and preserving it for future generations is paramount.

Jasmine Ramero learned how to weatherize homes through a program supported by the Energy Department, as a member of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. She has distinguished herself and was honored as the National Corps Network's Corpsmember of the Year.