The Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development - 2025 grant, issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, aims to support Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations. The funding opportunity is designed to assist tribal communities in overcoming barriers to clean energy development and accelerating the deployment of energy solutions on Tribal Lands. The program builds upon previous investments by the Office of Indian Energy to promote energy sovereignty and economic development among tribal communities.

This grant focuses on three primary topic areas: (1) Tribal Clean Energy Planning, which includes strategic energy planning, energy audits, climate resiliency planning, and regulatory code development; (2) Comprehensive Clean Energy Feasibility and Viability Assessment, aimed at assessing the feasibility of deploying clean energy technology through resource assessments, load assessments, and economic viability studies; and (3) Design and Development of Clean Energy Projects, intended to prepare projects for deployment, including finalizing engineering designs and securing financing and approvals. The program requires applicants to demonstrate organizational and technical readiness and prioritize projects that address high energy costs, lack of access to traditional power grids, and tribal communities that have not previously received funding from the Office of Indian Energy.

The total estimated funding available for this program is $25 million, with anticipated awards ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million per project depending on the topic area. The DOE expects to issue between 20 and 40 awards under this opportunity. Cost-sharing is generally required at 10% of the total project costs, although applicants from tribal communities with a high poverty rate or low median household income relative to state averages may request a cost share reduction to 0%.

Eligible applicants include Indian Tribes, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations on whose Tribal Buildings or Tribal Lands the proposed projects will be located. Applications must provide eligibility statements and evidence to support DOE’s determination of eligibility. Applicants must also register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before submitting their application. Additionally, participation in an informational webinar scheduled for October 24, 2024, at 3:00 PM ET is encouraged for prospective applicants.

The application process requires submission through the IE-Exchange online portal, including multiple required documents such as a technical volume, work plan, budget justification, and eligibility statements. Applications are due by March 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced in Summer 2025, with negotiations to finalize awards taking approximately 90 days.

For more details, applicants should review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on the Office of Indian Energy’s Funding Opportunity Exchange at https://ie-exchange.energy.gov. For further assistance, applicants may contact the DOE Tribal Grants Office via email at TribalGrants@hq.doe.gov.