Past
Clean Energy
Grant

Unleashing Tribal Energy Development Grants

Deadline:
July 24, 2026
Total Funding
$50,000,000
Maximum Award
$7,500,000
Overview

To foster affordable, reliable, and secure energy solutions in Indian Country by supporting Tribal‑led community‑scale project planning and development and large‑scale energy project planning that strengthens Tribal economies. The projects funded will lead to energy projects that aim to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand electric and other energy access, and advance energy projects for Tribal economic development.

Funder

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy

Program

TECC grant writing resources:

Applications Due

July 24, 2026

Total Funding

$50 million

Funding Source

Federal

Maximum Award

$7,500,000

Award Details

  • Up to $7.5 million for Topic Area 1: Tribal community energy deployment projects
  • Up to $1.5 million for Topic Area 2: Tribal community energy projects planning, assessment, and feasibility
  • Up to $2.5 million for Topic Area 3: Large-scale planning, assessment, and feasibility for Tribal energy projects

Eligibility

Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native regional corporations and Village corporations), Tribal and intertribal Organizations, Tribal Energy Development Organizations, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or any consortium of these eligible groups.

Eligible Activities

  • Topic Area 1: Tribal community energy deployment projects
    • Project examples include:
      • A project to increase the energy efficiency of a Tribal government campus with multiple buildings
      • A project to build a combined heat and power (CHP) system at a Tribal university, casino or other type of facility to offset the electric power from the grid, as well as use the heat for loads at the facility
      • A project to address reliability of residential electricity access
      • A project to implement a biomass boiler in a Tribal building or facility such as a school
      • A project deploying a combination of energy generation and a battery energy storage system for a remote Tribal Village that is not connected to the traditional power grid
  • Topic Area 2: Tribal community energy projects planning, assessment, and feasibility
    • Tribal community energy planning:
      • Strategic energy planning
      • Energy resiliency planning
      • Conducting Energy Options Analyses
      • Conducting a comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment
      • Design and development of energy projects
    • Conducting energy audits to establish baseload energy use and energy efficiency options
    • Tribal energy capacity building
      • Developing an energy organization or office;
      • Establishing Tribal energy policy, regulations, or codes to reduce energy use or promote energy development; and
      • Obtaining skills and training related to energy use, development, or management
  • Topic Area 3: Large-scale planning, assessment, and feasibility for Tribal energy projects
    • Eligible planning, feasibility, and assessment activities under Topic Area 3 may include similar subtopics as under Topic Area 2, however Topic Area 2 supports community-scale projects and activities, Topic Area 3 supports large-scale (e.g., of regional scope or significance) and commercial activities.

Duration

Topic Area 1 is 24 to 48 months; Topic Area 2 and Topic Area 3 are each 12 to 48 months.

Notable Requirements

Tribal community energy deployment projects (Topic Area 1) have a 10% minimum cost share requirement. All projects must be Tribal‑led and located on, or benefit, Tribal lands and communities. All applicants are required to submit an executed Applicant Tribal Council Resolution or Declaration of Commitment and Cost Sharing File to include a statement of commitment and cost sharing by the applicant. Eligible Tribal and intertribal organizations must submit a certified Transparency of Foreign Connections disclosure and certification as it relates to the proposed recipient and subrecipient(s).

Preferences

Technical Review Criterion 1: Needs, Goals, and Objectives 20%; Criterion 2: Viability, Impacts, and Outcomes 50%; Criterion 3: Roles, Responsibilities, Capabilities, and Commitment 20%; and Criterion 4: Workplan 10%.

How to Apply

All required submissions must be submitted to the IE-eXCHANGE site.The Office of Indian Energy offers free technical assistance to help Tribes and other eligible applicants during early-stage project development.

ConstructionEconomic DevelopmentEnergy EfficiencyEnergy StorageGrid ResilienceInfrastructure Development

Technical Assistance Available

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