Trump administration obstructs Tribal initiatives for renewable energy development
In a recent development, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended changes to federal procedures aimed at reducing barriers for Tribes developing energy projects, particularly focusing on the DOE Tribal Energy Financing Program. However, the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy (ATCE) has expressed concerns about the potential re-institutionalization of paternalism over Tribal Nations, questioning whether federal funding for clean energy on Tribal lands will be available at all, and if so, whether it will come with additional hoops to be jumped through.
The ATCE's concerns stem from a memo issued by the Department of Interior (DOI) that mandates a multi-layered review and approval process for wind or solar projects on federal land. This process includes 68 specific actions and "any other similar or related decisions." The ATCE is seeking clarification from the DOI that Tribes are not included in these new review requirements.
The DOI memo has already had a dampening effect on Tribal activity at the federal funding level. Some Tribes have been discouraged from applying for funding opportunities, fearing that the new review process may be too burdensome. This could potentially impact clean energy projects built on Tribal lands, causing concerns among federal employees at the Department of Indian Energy.
Tribal Nations face significantly higher energy burdens than other communities, with Tribal communities enduring 6.5 times more outages than the national average. 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.
Major sources of funding for clean energy projects on Tribal lands 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 future of these funding sources is uncertain. The Grid Resilience Formula Grant offers $2.3 billion, spread over five years, to states and Tribes for grid resiliency projects, but the funds for the remaining two years are currently in limbo. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which operates the Grid Resilience Formula Grant program, has not provided any updates on the next round of funding, which was expected to open by February 2025.
In response to these challenges, the ATCE is encouraging Tribes to reach out to their representatives, have conversations with Secretary Burgum and his staff, and request clarification that Tribes are not being swept up in the new review requirements for wind or solar projects on federal land. The ATCE believes that this clarification is crucial to ensure that Tribes can continue to develop clean energy projects and reduce their energy burdens.
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. The future of these projects, and the clean energy initiatives they represent, remains uncertain. The ATCE's advocacy work will be crucial in ensuring that Tribes have access to the funding and resources they need to build a sustainable and resilient energy future.
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