Solar

The goal of this funding opportunity is to improve the outcomes of large-scale solar (LSS) development for ecosystems, wildlife, and communities by soliciting projects that will a) test strategies that mitigate adverse impacts and/or maximize benefits to wildlife and ecosystems, b) provide technical assistance and stakeholder engagement opportunities to facilitate strategies that improve the compatibility of LSS facilities with wildlife, or c) provide technical assistance and conduct outreach to facilitate the adoption of agrivoltaics.

This FOA builds on efforts by the DOE Office of Indian Energy and the authorities granted to the DOE Office of Indian Energy under EPAct 2005, to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technology on Tribal Lands. In addition to the $75 million committed to tribal energy projects selected in 2023, between 2010 and 2022, the DOE Office of Indian Energy invested over $120 million in more than 210 tribal energy projects implemented across the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. These projects, valued at more than $215 million, are leveraged by over $93 million in Recipient cost share. See the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy website for a map and summaries of these competitively funded projects.

Through this FOA, the DOE Office of Indian Energy will continue its efforts to advance Tribal
energy sovereignty and maximize the deployment of clean, reliable, affordable and local energy solutions.

The FOA is soliciting applications for:
1) Tribal Clean Energy Planning (Topic Area 1); or,
2) Comprehensive Clean Energy Feasibility and Viability Assessment (Topic Area 2); or,
3) Design and Development of Clean Energy Projects (Topic Area 3).

Projects selected under Topic Area 1 (Tribal Clean Energy Planning) are intended to result in
specific outcomes (measurable results or end-products) which may include, but are not limited to: a strategic energy plan, energy options analysis; energy audits; climate resiliency plan; development of an energy organization or office; establishment of energy policy, regulations or codes; and skills development and training. Funds under this Topic Area may be used for internal personnel costs (e.g., energy and infrastructure management roles) and for community outreach. See Section I.B.1 for more information.

Projects selected under Topic Area 2 (Comprehensive Clean Energy Feasibility and Viability
Assessment) are intended to result in a comprehensive project plan sufficient to move a project to the design and development phase of a clean energy project on Tribal Buildings or Tribal Land (see Topic Area 3). It is anticipated that the proposed comprehensive feasibility and viability assessment, as a minimum, is based on a completed energy options analysis (see Topic Area 1). See Section I.B.2. for more information.

Projects selected under Topic Area 3 (Design and Development of Clean Energy Projects) are intended to result in projects ready for deployment (final design, installation, commissioning and monitoring) of clean energy technology on Tribal Buildings or Tribal Lands. It is intended that the proposed development activities are the result of a comprehensive feasibility and viability assessment (see Topic Area 2). See Section I.B.3 for more information.

The American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize: Accessing Capital to Deploy Equitable Community Solar is a $10 million prize designed to fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support multiple successful community solar projects. The goal of this prize is to expand a robust ecosystem of community solar project developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into projects across the United States. In 2024, Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize expanded beyond community solar to include other forms of distributed solar energy technologies.

The prize is part of the Community Power AcceleratorTM, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Community Solar Partnership+ (NCSP+) that connects developers, investors, philanthropists, and community-based organizations to get more equitable solar projects financed and deployed. The Accelerator provides training, technical assistance, and an online platform to support the critical connections necessary to finance and expand access to affordable distributed solar.