Unleashing Tribal Energy Development
The Department of Energy is offering $50 million in grants to help Tribes develop, plan, and build affordable, reliable, and secure energy projects to benefit Tribal communities and strengthen Tribal sovereignty.
Funder: Golden Field Office
Due Dates: July 24, 2026: Full application submission deadline
Funding Amounts: $250,000–$7,500,000 per award | ~$50 million total program funding | Up to 40 awards expected
Summary: Supports the development, efficiency, and use of Tribal energy resources to advance Tribal sovereignty and energy infrastructure for the benefit of Tribes and their members.
Key Information: No cost sharing or matching required.
Description
This funding opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's Golden Field Office and the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, aims to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy development on Tribal lands. The program is designed to benefit Tribes and their members by supporting projects that enhance Tribal sovereignty through energy development, energy efficiency, and increased use of Tribal energy resources.
Projects may fall under three topic areas:
- Topic Area 1: Construction of energy assets and projects to serve the electric loads and energy needs of Tribal communities.
- Topic Area 2: Completion of all pre-development activities necessary for the deployment of community-scale energy projects.
- Topic Area 3: Pre-development activities for large-scale commercial development of Tribal energy resources, strengthening Tribal energy and economic infrastructure.
DOE expects to make approximately $50 million available for new awards under this opportunity. Projects are intended to support Tribal self-determination, energy security, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
