Decision Support for Tribes
NREL provides decision support, technical assistance, and resources to assist federally recognized U.S. Tribes and Alaska Native villages plan for and implement clean energy solutions.
To provide decision support and collaboratively developed energy solutions, NREL partners with American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other federal agencies, nonprofits, and intertribal organizations.
Technical Assistance
NREL partners with the DOE Office of Indian Energy to provide no-cost technical assistance to tribes and Alaska Native villages. NREL has supported more than 300 high-impact Tribal energy projects since 2012. Tribes can request free access to NREL expertise through DOE's Office of Indian Energy.
In addition, tribes might also be interested in these other technical assistance offerings through NREL and DOE:
Communities Local Energy Action Program
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas
Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project
Solar Energy Innovation Network
Tribal Nation Offshore Wind Transmission Technical Assistance Program.
Explore all technical assistance opportunities.
Resources and Tools for Projects
NREL develops and provides resources and tools to assist tribes in navigating clean energy projects.
Tribal Energy Atlas
Explore data by tribal land and conduct analyses of demographics, installed capacity, utility-scale renewable energy technical potential and more.
DOE Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool
Use these data, maps, and graphs to understand housing and energy characteristics for low- and moderate-income households including on tribal lands .
Guidebook Explores Potential Solutions to Tribal Solar Regulatory Barriers
Read the blog and publication to explore regulatory barriers and potential solutions to tribal solar deployment.
DOE Education and Capacity Building Resources
Explore educational and capacity building resources from DOE's Office of Indian Energy.
Renewable Energy Integration and Optimization
Use this economic decision support platform to optimize energy systems for buildings, campuses, communities, microgrids, and more.
Resilient Buildings for Tribes and Alaska Native villages
Learn how through NREL's Alaska campus in Fairbanks, NREL partners with Alaska Native villages and tribes to co-create sustainable, resilient buildings that thrive in the local environment.
Explore our full list of data and tools.
Success Stories
Publications
Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment, NREL Technical Report (2023)
Community Energy Planning: Best Practices and Lessons Learned in NREL's Work with Communities, NREL Technical Report (2022)
High-Efficiency Housing at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, NREL Technical Report (2018)
Techno-Economic Renewable Energy Potential on Tribal Lands, NREL Technical Report (2018)
Solar Energy Prospecting in Remote Alaska: An Economic Analysis of Solar Photovoltaics in the Last Frontier State, DOE Report (2016)
Strengthening Tribal Communities, Sustaining Future Generations, DOE Report (2017)
Military Base Off-Taker Opportunities for Tribal Renewable Energy Projects, DOE Report (2013)
Geospatial Analysis of Renewable Energy Technical Potential on Tribal Lands, DOE Report (2013)
Renewable Energy Development in Indian Country: A Handbook for Tribes, NREL Subcontract Report (2010)
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