Capacity Building

Tribal Nations and supporting organizations do critical work to engage their communities in important decisions around energy infrastructure and its impacts on economic opportunities, cultural resources, and the homelands and spaces that they steward. The $6 million Tribal Energy Capacity Expansion (TECE) Prize, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and facilitated through the National Laboratory of the Rockies, addresses an urgent need for additional resources to help Tribal Nations grow their capacity in energy infrastructure permitting and decision-making. This prize is technology-neutral, meaning that participating teams may focus on capacity needs related to any energy technology. All submissions should focus on expanding capacity to represent Tribal priorities in energy permitting and decision-making activities. The prize will provide winning teams with cash awards and direct technical assistance, including peer learning activities. During Phase 1 – Capacity Needs, applicants will identify current capacity gaps affecting their ability to participate in priority energy development areas. Awardees will receive funding, technical assistance, and an invitation to enter Phase 2.

This six-month technical assistance program provides practitioner-driven housing development fundamentals, peer-to-peer support, and approximately 20 hours of free, individualized TA from experts to help Tribal organizations maximize state housing funds and build internal capacity for construction. Federally recognized California Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities, Tribes listed on the California heritage commission list, or Native-led 501(c)3 organizations involved in housing provision are eligible.

Cohort members receive $3,000 participation grant to cover travel and dedicated staff time, and can access an additional mini-grant of up to $10,000 for direct pre-development costs. The 2026 cycle is forthcoming.

National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly called the National Renewable Energy Laboratory or NREL) offered targeted technical and analytical assistance to communities through the Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) as Innovation at SCALE (Solar Community Assistance for Local Equity). The goal was to overcome barriers to solar adoption and achieve a just and equitable solar future. SEIN and Innovation at SCALE can offer expert guidance, tailored support on specific challenges, and community-focused solutions with proven strategies and lessons learned from successful SEIN projects. Requests for assistance were expected to reopen in March 2025, but did not and the web page had technical issues in April 2025 and as of October 2025, requests are currently closed.

State-funded Sustainable Communities grants are intended to support and implement Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Sustainable Communities Strategies/Alternative Planning Strategies (SCS/APS) (where applicable) and to ultimately achieve the State’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 40 and 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 2045, respectively. Federal-funded Strategic Partnerships and Strategic Partnership Transit grants support Federal Planning Factors and address State highway/transit issues of regional, interregional, and/or statewide significance, in partnership with Caltrans.

To support the engagement of Tribes and Native-led organizations in U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and related Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) programs and opportunities.

The CPAW program offers free services to local communities to identify and implement projects that successfully reduce wildfire risk. CPAW collaborates with communities to develop site-specific recommendations.

To help very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.