MTERA 2021 Virtual Annual Conference: April 27–30
The Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and RENEW Wisconsin, will be hosting a four-day virtual conference on April 27–30, 2021. The theme of the event is Tribes at the Energy Forefront. Hear from tribal leaders, federal and state agencies, educators, and energy industry experts as they discuss successful tribal energy projects, state and federal energy policy, and strategic energy planning to help tribes advance beneficial energy initiatives.
Several members of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy team will present on the first day of the conference, which focuses on national tribal energy programs. NREL experts will lead a series of tribal solar energy workshops on the final day of the event.
View the agenda and register for the free conference.
2021 Tribal Energy Webinar Series Kicks Off April 28
The Office of Indian Energy is continuing its monthly tribal energy webinar series in 2021 to share information, tools, resources, and potential funding opportunities. This year’s series will focus on how tribal energy projects can improve community resilience, foster economic development, and support environmental stewardship.
The 2021 series kicks off with Planning for a Changing Climate on April 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mountain Time (MT). The climate is changing—and as it changes, our infrastructure must change with it. In this webinar we will discuss how climatological changes and extreme weather events are impacting tribal communities, and opportunities and tools available to tribes to help plan for and adapt to these changes.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. Register now for the webinar.
Learn more about the upcoming Tribal Energy for Resilience, Economic Development, and Environmental Stewardship series.
DOE Roundtable Discussion on Funding and Financing Tribal Energy Projects: May 5
Ms. Wahleah Johns, Senior Advisor and Acting Director of the Office of Indian Energy, and Mr. Jigar Shah, Executive Director of the DOE Loan Programs Office, invite you to participate in a 2-hour roundtable discussion session May 5, 12:30–2:30 p.m. MT. This session welcomes all tribal leaders and staff responsible for energy and utility programs, economic and enterprise development, and finance; related tribal non-profits and associations; and industry, including banks, equity investors, and energy developers.
Ms. Johns and Mr. Shah are interested in hearing from all participants on the challenges in developing tribal energy projects and how funding and financing programs offered through DOE can be structured to address them. Participants are encouraged to use this opportunity to speak directly with Ms. Johns and Mr. Shah to offer feedback on making these programs more effective for Indian Country to meet tribal economic development and energy resilience needs.
Funding and Other Opportunities
BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program: Apply by April 23
The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is soliciting proposals from federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations to receive grants to support tribal resilience and ocean and coastal management and planning.
The program supports tribes as they prepare for climate change impacts on tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and safety. It will provide funding for projects that support tribal climate resilience as tribes incorporate science and technical information. The program also supports tribal ocean and coastal management and planning. Learn more and apply.
USDA Seeks Public Input to Help Create a New Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program: Provide Comments by April 29
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting public input from interested parties, including potential customers and interested stakeholders, to help create a new Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program. To ensure a diverse group of voices are heard, USDA is seeking written comments and will host a public listening session on April 22.
The new program will aim to support the nation’s critical energy needs, and combat climate change while advancing environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity through the use of distributed energy technologies, innovations, and/or solutions. Learn more.
EPA Environmental Justice Program Grants: Apply by June 1
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of low-income communities and communities of color through the advancement of racial equity and environmental justice. Two funding opportunities are currently open to nonprofit organizations, U.S. territories, tribal governments, Alaska Native villages, and tribal organizations.
- Environmental Justice Small Grants Program: This program awards grants that support community-driven projects designed to engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities. Learn more and apply.
- Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program: This program provides funding to support community-based organizations in their efforts to collaborate and partner with local stakeholder groups (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, and academia) as they develop community-driven solutions that address environmental and/or public health issues for underserved communities. Learn more and apply.
Learn more about the EPA’s environmental justice funding and technical assistance opportunities.
