The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that it will fund 14 tribal energy infrastructure projects through its Office of Indian Energy. The DOE will provide $16m in funding, with another $23m in costs shared by tribal communities to take the value of the projects to $39m.
In a statement announcing the project, the DOE said that this funding will help Native American and Alaska Native communities “harness their vast energy resources in order to reduce or stabilise energy costs, as well as increase their energy security and resilience.”
One project funded by the DOE includes $2m for the development of a 2.3MW solar farm by Aha Macav Power Service (AMPS) in Arizona, which is authorised by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.
Other projects include $1.5m for a marine renewable energy device in the Kvichak River in Alaska and $1m for a battery energy storage system as part of a joint venture between Kwethluk Inc, the Organized Village of Kwethluk and Nuvista Light & Electric Cooperative.
Reaction to infrastructure funding
Announcing the project on twitter, the DOE noted that it would add 13MW in new electricity generation and make annual savings of $7.5m.
US Under-Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes said: “The tribal energy infrastructure projects announced today are another example of cross-cutting energy efforts being deployed by DOE, in partnership with tribal communities, to provide affordable and reliable energy across the country.”
“These projects will unleash sovereign Native American and Alaska Native energy development however each tribe believes is best for their community.”
