Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, provide grant, loan, and technical assistance programs to support tribal energy projects. Find information about the Office of Indian Energy's past funding opportunities.
Current Funding Opportunities
| Close Date | Organization | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| 12/28/2020 | Grid Alternatives | Tribal Energy Innovators Fellowship The Tribal Energy Innovators Fellowship designated for federally recognized tribal members who are interested, invested, or engaged in work which supports renewable energy infrastructure and tribal energy capacity building in tribal communities. The fellowship is 6-months long (January–June 2021) that will provide $5,000 grants and other resources to selected fellows that will support the development of innovative ideas and the use of problem-solving processes that lead to sustainable renewable energy solutions for a tribal community. |
| 01/29/2021 | FEMA | Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities FEMA’s two mitigation grant programs provide states, local communities, tribes, and territories funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future disaster damages. |
| 01/29/2021 | DOE | Improving Hydropower's Value through Informed Decision Making DOE's Water Power Technologies Office is accepting applications for technical assistance to:
Six recipients will receive technical assistance valued at up to $400,000.
|
| 01/31/2021 | USDA | 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Colleges and Universities Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines. The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program combines classroom study with paid work experience that leads to employment at USDA. The program provides full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, food science, natural resource science, or a related academic discipline at one of 35 federally recognized tribal colleges and universities. The scholarship may be renewed each year, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and normal progress toward the bachelor's degree. Scholars accepted into the program will be eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements by the end of the agreement period. (5 CFR 213.3202) (Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018- Section 12519) If selected, scholars must commit to at least one year of service to USDA for each year of financial assistance provided. The details of this requirement will be outlined in the service agreement for the scholar, their university, and the USDA sponsoring agency. |
| 01/31/2021 | BPA | The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is accepting applications to provide students with a 10-week applied work experience internship and an opportunity to explore career options. Positions available:
Eligible applicants must:
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| 2/1/2021 | USDA | Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans USDA's Rural Development offers grants and loan/grant opportunities to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Loan guarantees may be used to purchase new energy efficiency equipment. |
| 2/3/2021 | USDA | Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program The U.S. Forest Service requests proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility, and will achieve the following:
This funding opportunity is intended for shovel ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period. The Forest Service plans to award approximately $5 million in total awards under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment. Eligible applicants are nonprofits; local, state, and tribal governments; businesses, companies, corporations (for profit); institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports.). |
| 2/11/2021 | DOE | Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands The Office of Indian Energy announced up to $15 million in new funding to deploy energy technology on tribal lands. This funding will support Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations. Should tribes so choose to unleash their vast undeveloped energy resources, this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) would help support those communities. DOE is soliciting applications to install energy technology on tribal lands. Specifically, the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is soliciting applications to:
An informational webinar provided potential applicants with information on the FOA. View the webinar and download presentation slides. |
| Pending | EDA | FY2019 EDA Disaster Supplemental The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is accepting applications for the Disaster Supplemental from communities impacted by natural disasters in 2018 and floods and tornadoes in 2019. Eligible entities include state, county, special district, and city governments; federally recognized tribes; and nonprofits. |
| Pending | USDA | Rural Business-Cooperative Service USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has published a June 8, 2017 Federal Register notice to reopen the application period and to expand the types of entities eligible to apply for the Rural Transportation grants originally noted in a Nov. 18, 2016 Federal Register notice. Assistance provided to Rural Areas under the program has historically included the provision of onsite technical assistance to local and regional governments, public transit agencies, and related Nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Rural Areas; the development of training materials; and the provision of necessary training assistance to local officials and agencies in Rural Areas. The original notice limited eligible entities to “qualified national nonprofit organizations.” It is USDA’s intent that otherwise qualified national organizations that are not nonprofits also be eligible. Therefore, in the reissuance of the Notice, the Agency is removing nonprofit'' as a condition for eligibility to apply and removing any additional references to "nonprofit'' found in the Nov. 18, 2016, notice. Because removing reference to ``nonprofits'' as a condition of eligibility increases the number of potential applicants, USDA is reopening the application period for a period of 90 days from the date the reissued notice is published in the FEDERAL REGISTER to allow entities sufficient time to apply for the grants. USDA is uncertain, however, whether extending the application period will provide sufficient time to evaluate applications and to make awards. Therefore, the Agency is removing in the reissued notice reference to the award date of Sep. 30, 2017, which was found in the Nov. 18, 2016, notice. |
| Pending | DOE | National Community Solar Partnership The Partnership is a coalition of community solar stakeholders working to expand access to affordable community solar to every American household by 2025. This partnership will develop multi-stakeholder teams to convene around specific goals, provide technical assistance for unique local challenges, and develop an online community platform to support information exchange. If you’re interested in joining the partnership or learning more, please send us an email. |
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.
BPA Tribal Set-Aside for Low-Income Weatherization
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has a long-standing commitment to provide funding for weatherization services to low-income households. In 1999, BPA specifically set aside funding to be targeted towards Native American homes to improve the installation of weatherization measures in both Indian Country and throughout the service territory of its public utility customers.
DOE Office of Indian Energy Technical Assistance
The 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.
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.
Economic Development Assistance Programs, Department of Commerce
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) solicits applications from applicants in rural and urban areas to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs.
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.
EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive- merit-basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States. There are no submission deadlines under this opportunity. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new Economic Development Assistance Program Federal Funding Opportunity announcement.
EPA Brownfields Technical Assistance, Training, and Research
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Technical Assistance provides funding to organizations to conduct research and to provide training and technical assistance to communities to help address their brownfields challenges, such as conducting educational workshops, use web-based tools to facilitate brownfields redevelopment, and more.
The Ford Family Foundation is accepting applications to two funding opportunities for small or rural communities with populations under 35,000.
- Good Neighbor Grant offers funding to address unexpected needs or simple projects. Grants are available between $1,000–$10,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Community Building Spaces Grant offers funding for the development of public spaces. Various uses of funding include land acquisition, purchasing buildings, construction and renovations, among other activities. Grants are available between $50,000–$250,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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.
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.
Environmental Infrastructure Loan Program
Rural Community Assistance Corporation’s (RCAC) Environmental Infrastructure Loan Program helps create, improve, or expand the supply of safe drinking water, waste disposal systems and other facilities that serve rural communities. RCAC’s loan programs provide the early funds small rural communities need to determine feasibility and pay pre-development costs prior to receiving state &/or federal program funding. May also provide interim construction financing, and intermediate & long-term loans for system improvements.
Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal governments. Projects must be located in rural areas with populations of 50,000 or less in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii and other pacific islands, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Community size is limited to 10,000 for long-term USDA guaranteed loans and short-term loans for which USDA is the long-term lender. Eligible projects include water, wastewater, solid waste & storm water facilities. Contact Mike Carroll at mcarroll@rcac.org
NREL Decision Support for Tribes
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) State, Local, and Tribal program partners with Native American tribes and Alaska Native villages, DOE, and other federal agencies, nonprofits, and intertribal organizations to provide resources and direct assistance that support energy technology delivery and connect motivated tribal governments with NREL's science and analysis. NREL provides the following tailored programs: technology and market analysis, direct technical assistance, capacity building, and resilience assessment and planning.
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 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
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.
USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is helping communities address watershed impairments that pose imminent threats to lives and property. The Emergency Watershed Protection Program was established by congress to respond to emergencies created by natural disasters and designed to help people and conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, drought, windstorms, and other natural occurrences.
Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance, but must be represented by a project sponsor that must be a legal subdivision of the State, such as a city, county, township or conservation district, and Native American Tribes or Tribal governments.
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.
USDA Farm Bill Broadband Loans & Loan Guarantees
USDA is accepting applications to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide service at the broadband lending speed in eligible rural areas. To be eligible for a broadband loan, an applicant may be either a non-profit or for-profit organization, and must take one of the following forms: corporation; limited liability company (LLC); cooperative or mutual organization; a state or local unit of government; or Indian tribe or tribal organization.
Rural Business Development Grants
USDA is accepting applications to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities. Rural public entities including, but not limited to, towns, communities, state agencies, authorities, nonprofits, federally recognized tribes, and rural cooperatives.
Rural Community Development Initiative Grants
USDA is accepting applications to help nonprofit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. The grants may be used for, but not limited to
- Training sub-grantees to conduct:
- Home-ownership education
- Minority business entrepreneur education
- Providing technical assistance to sub-grantees on:
- Strategic plan development
- Accessing alternative funding sources
- Board training
- Developing successful child care facilities
- Creating training tools, such as videos, workbooks, and reference guides
- Effective fundraising techniques.
USDA provides financial assistance to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. An example of a potential funded project may be the installation of solar panels for hospitals or clinics to improve energy costs.
USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
USDA provides loans and grants to microenterprise development organizations to provide microloans to help microenterprise startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Eligible entities includes nonprofits, federally recognized tribes, and institutions of higher education. Eligible areas include rural areas outside a city or town with a population of less than 50,000.