$44 Million for Clear Power Planning & Deployment on Tribal Lands – CleanTechnica – Uplaza

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$18.8 Million Awarded to Six American Indian and Alaska Native Communities to Set up Value-Saving, Clear Power Infrastructure with an Further $25 Million in Funding Accessible for Future Planning and Growth Initiatives on Tribal Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Division of Power (DOE) introduced at the moment almost $44 million for Tribal communities to deploy clear vitality options that can deliver vitality safety and resilience and assist decrease vitality prices. Six American Indian and Alaska Native communities positioned in 5 states will obtain $18.8 million in funding to put in photo voltaic and wind vitality infrastructure which is able to present 5.6-megawatts (MW) of unpolluted vitality technology and battery storage for over 100 Tribal buildings. An extra $25 million in funding might be made obtainable by means of a brand new funding alternative announcement for Tribal communities to plan, assess, and develop clear vitality tasks. These investments deliver our nation nearer to the Biden–Harris Administration’s purpose to reinforce Tribal vitality sovereignty, whereas attaining an equitable clear vitality future.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the DOE has provided historic funding for Tribal communities and today’s announcement doubles down on our commitments to ensuring these communities remain in the driver’s seat as together we deploy clean, stable and affordable power to those that need it most,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Power Jennifer M. Granholm. “Tribal Nations are helping to lead the way as we transition to build more cost-effective, stronger, and resilient communities for the future.”

The six cost-shared vitality tasks chosen at the moment are the results of a aggressive funding alternative announcement launched Feb. 27, 2024. By these grants, the DOE Workplace of Indian Power will proceed its efforts to advance Tribal vitality sovereignty and maximize the deployment of unpolluted, dependable, reasonably priced, and native vitality options. Collectively, these tasks are estimated to lead to almost 5.6-MW of unpolluted vitality technology and over 3.2-megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage, impacting over 100 Tribal buildings and saving these communities almost $54 million over the lifetime of these methods. These investments will yield tangible outcomes 12 months after 12 months to enhance the standard of life for these underserved communities.

The tasks competitively chosen for negotiation of award, in alphabetical order, are:

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, CA, will set up a cumulative of 551-kilowatts (kW) of photo voltaic photovoltaics (PV) and a 1,311-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery vitality storage system (BESS) on 5 important buildings, considerably enhancing grid resiliency, decreasing vitality prices, and selling environmental sustainability. It’s estimated that the methods will save the Tribe $9.3 million over the lifetime of the methods. (Award quantity: $4,376,448)
• Alaska Village Electrical Cooperative, Inc. will refurbish two 200-kW wind generators and set up a BESS, with an influence capability of 320-kW and storage capability of 540-kWh in Mekoryuk, AK. The tasks will scale back energy prices and diesel gasoline use, improve wind-generated energy by 94%, displace 41,360 gallons of diesel gasoline, scale back diesel generator operations by 3,830 hours per 12 months, convert extra wind technology to warmth (offsetting 1,900 gallons of heating oil yearly), and is estimated to save lots of over $4.7 million over the lifetime of the methods. (Award quantity: $2,205,332)
• Barona Group of the Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians in Lakeside, CA, will set up 2,300-kW of ground-mounted photo voltaic PV methods to serve 4 very important services. The undertaking’s new PV capability is anticipated to generate 5,686-MWh of electrical energy in 12 months 1 to cut back the Band’s dependence on grid-supplied vitality, decreasing the Tribe’s electrical payments by greater than $31.2 million over the undertaking’s 25-year lifetime. (Award quantity: $5,000,000)
• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Group, Prior Lake, MN, will deploy 5 photo voltaic PV methods, totaling roughly 596-kW, on the rooftops of current buildings in Prior Lake, MN. The methods will offset roughly 11% of the whole vitality utilization of the 5 important buildings and assist the Tribe’s long-term imaginative and prescient of being carbon-neutral by avoiding roughly 28,119,128 lbs. of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the methods. (Award quantity: $1,258,799)
• United Tribes Technical Faculty, Bismark, ND, will set up 150-kW of photo voltaic PV and a 250-kW/1,376-kWh BESS on the Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Middle, a necessary Tribal constructing and emergency sheltering space on the campus of United Tribes Technical Faculty. The system is anticipated to fulfill 42% of the typical annual vitality consumption; permit the Faculty to determine a revolving fund with the financial savings for use for operations and upkeep; and assist further investments in clear vitality deployment, training, and coaching. (Award quantity: $2,198,863)
• Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Anadarko, OK, will set up 1,200-kW of photo voltaic PV to fulfill 36% of the vitality load of high-energy-consuming buildings in Hinton, OK, saving the Tribe an estimated $170,000 yearly and decreasing its carbon footprint by 33,047 metric tons per 12 months. As a step towards the Tribe’s long-term imaginative and prescient of attaining vitality self-sufficiency and sustainability, the undertaking can also be anticipated to offer 10 momentary development jobs and a pair of long-term positions. (Award quantity: $3,795,312)

By a brand new $25 million funding alternative announcement, the DOE Workplace of Indian Power anticipates making roughly 20–40 awards that vary from $100,000 to $2,500,000 for tasks that assist the planning, evaluation, and improvement of unpolluted vitality for Tribal buildings or on Tribal lands.

Purposes are due at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23, 2025. To study extra, be part of an informational webinar on Oct. 24, 2024.
Concerning the DOE Workplace of Indian Power

DOE funds all kinds of unpolluted vitality tasks to assist Tribes in realizing their vitality visions. From 2010 by means of 2024, DOE’s Workplace of Indian Power has invested over $190 million in additional than 240 Tribal vitality tasks applied throughout the contiguous 48 states and in Alaska. These tasks, valued collectively at over $300 million, are leveraged by greater than $125 million in recipient cost-share. Discover details about present funding alternatives and study extra on the DOE Workplace of Indian Power web site.

Media Inquiries: (202) 586-4940 or DOENews@hq.doe.gov

Learn extra on the vitality.gov/Newsroom