Trump Administration Stalls Tribal Renewable Energy Ventures
In a worrying turn of events, the general uncertainty surrounding the disbursement of federal funding is taking a serious toll on clean energy projects on Tribal lands. The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, an organisation that works closely with numerous Tribes, reports that 100% of the Tribes they partner with rely on some form of federal funding to build these projects.
The recent Department of Interior (DOI) memo is creating a bottleneck for these Tribal projects, many of which are heavily reliant on federal tax credits. The memo, which requires a multi-layered review and approval process for wind or solar projects on federal land, has raised concerns among federal employees at the Department of Interior and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Tribes are more impacted by the early phase-out of federal tax credits under the OBBB than most, due to higher permitting hurdles and overlapping jurisdictions. The Department of Interior has yet to clarify its stance on the impact of the memo on clean energy projects on Tribal lands.
The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy is advocating for clarification from the Department of Interior that Tribes are not included in the new review requirements for wind or solar projects on federal land. The current position of the Ministry of the Interior is to support renewable energy projects on tribal lands by promoting collaboration with tribal governments to ensure sustainable development and respect for tribal sovereignty.
However, the Alliance's biggest question is whether any federal funding at all will be available for clean energy on Tribal lands, and if not, they are considering potential alternative sources. The Alliance is encouraging Tribes to reach out to their representatives and request clarification from Secretary Burgum and his staff about the impact of the DOI memo on clean energy projects on Tribal lands.
Major sources of funding in recent years have included the EPA's Solar For All program, the Grid Deployment Office's Tribal Transmission Infrastructure Planning Program (T-TIPP), and the Grid Resilience Formula Grant. However, the latter's funds are currently in limbo, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which operates the Grid Resilience Formula Grant, has not provided updates about the next round of funding, which was intended to be opened by February 2025.
As of January, there were at least 48 wind, solar, and generator tie line projects proposed on public land, totaling 25.4 gigawatts of power. Solar projects, both community-scale and rooftop, are often the most accessible forms of energy for a Tribe to build, as they directly reduce utility bills and can provide electricity for the first time in some instances.
The challenges faced by Tribal Nations in accessing federal funding and developing energy projects mirror those identified in a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. The report recommended changes to federal procedures to reduce barriers for Tribes developing energy projects, specifically focusing on the DOE Tribal Energy Financing Program.
Dr. Crystal Miller, who leads policy and government relations for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, stated that the memo is a "re-institutionalization of paternalism over Tribal Nations." The memo may impact clean energy projects built on Tribal lands, causing concerns among federal employees at the Department of Interior.
Tribal Nations face significantly higher energy burdens than other communities, with Tribal communities enduring 6.5 times more outages than the national average. The Alliance remains hopeful that the Department of Interior will provide clarification that Tribes are not included in the new review requirements for wind or solar projects on federal land.
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