“The Department of Energy is committed to helping Native American tribes meet their energy needs through clean energy technologies,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will create jobs and economic opportunities on tribal lands, while protecting our planet and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

In Alaska, many rural Native villages face the special challenge of paying high retail fuel prices to meet basic survival needs. Heating oil and diesel fuel is expensive, and the situation becomes even more burdensome for rural communities with the increased costs for transportation and storage. For those Alaska Native communities and many other tribes struggling in the current economy, renewable energy and greater efficiency can provide reliable power supplies while reducing heating and electricity costs.

DOE selected the projects through a competitive process and will provide financial assistance to the tribes for weatherization training, feasibility studies, and development and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. The DOE funding is expected to be matched by up to $27 million in public and private investment, for a total value of up to $41 million.

Of the 36 Native American tribes and villages whose projects have been selected for negotiation, 8 projects will provide weatherization training and resources to tribal members, 17 projects will focus on assessing the feasibility of renewable energy development and energy efficiency deployment on tribal lands; and 11 projects will fund the development of renewable energy resources and the deployment of energy efficiency measures on tribal lands and villages.

Since 2002, the DOE has provided $16.5 million for 93 tribal energy projects.

Read more on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Tribal Energy Program.

The following projects are selected for award negotiations. DOE funding is subject to negotiation and annual congressional appropriations.

Renewable Energy Development and Deployment Projects:

Campo Band of Mission Indians -Wind (160 MW) – $1,255,574

Chaninik Wind Group – Wind (1.35 MW) and Thermal Heating – $750,000

Cherokee Nation Business – Wind (127.5 MW) – $990,500

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians – Lighting, Building Envelop & HVAC – $200,000

Forest County Potawatomi Community – Lighting – $459,000

Forest County Potawatomi Community – Envelop, Heating & Cooling, Electrical and Plumbing – $1,115,043

Haida Power, Inc.- Hydroelectric (5 MW) – $1,120,000

$1,120,000 – Wind – $370,000

Kootznoowoo Incorporated – Hydroelectric (1 MW) – $1,110,500

Rosebud Sioux Tribe – Wind (190 MW) – $1,500,000

The Chickasaw Nation – Lighting – $200,000

Feasibility Study Projects:

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians – Solar – $150,000

Chickaloon Native Village – EE & RE – $244,106

Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. – Bldg. Efficiency – $57,184

Elk Valley Rancheria – Bldg. Efficiency, General Renewables, Geothermal, Wave, Wind, Solar – $76,738

Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes – Geothermal Electrical – $233,170

Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma – Wind – $242,586

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community – Wind – $207,680

Lac Court Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians – Hydro-power – $201,643

Lower Sioux Indian Community – Wind – $250,000

Lummi Indian Business Council (WIND) – Wind – $180,000

Native Village of Eyak – Wind – $248,107

Pinoleville Pomo Nation – MicroHydro; Geothermal; Biomass; Wind; Solar – $101,630

Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa – Wind – $246,770

Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians – Building Efficiency – $95,000

To’Hajiilee Economic Development, Inc. – Solar – $250,000

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe – Wind – $140,000

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California – Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass & Biofuels – $249,827.