What is the current status of this program?
This funding is no longer available. If you want more incentives like this, tell your Federal, North Carolina, and South Carolina legislators. Click here to see how this program benefited Tribes across the country.
What does this funding get me?
Funds appropriated through section 80003 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) gave $150 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to be used for:
- The provision of electricity to unelectrified Tribal homes through zero-emissions energy systems
- Transitioning electrified Tribal homes to zero-emissions energy systems
- Associated home repairs and retrofitting as necessary to install the zero-emissions energy systems.
The award size ranged from $250,000 to $20 million.
Am I eligible?
Federally-recognized Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations (including cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, and associations) were eligible. Tribal consortia needed to coordinate with Federally-recognized Tribes within their service area.
How can I access the money?
This funding is no longer available. If you want more incentives like this, tell your Federal, North Carolina, and South Carolina legislators. See the BIA website for more information.
What is the timeline?
The program included two rounds of funding. The first application period ended December 22, 2023 and awards were announced in March 2024 (see list of awards here). The second application period ended June 30, 2024 and awards were announced in September 2024 (see list here).
What other incentives could I use to help me accomplish my goals?
- If you are installing solar or certain other clean energy technologies, check out the clean electricity investment tax credit for individuals, businesses or tax-exempt entities.
- Further assistance may be available to low-income homes installing solar energy under the Solar for All program.
- Affordable loans from community lenders may be available soon through the IRA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
- Check out DOE’s Tribal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program.
- Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) for additional incentives that may be offered by your state, local government, or utility, as well as important federal, state, and local policies. For questions regarding DSIRE, contact Justin Lindemann (NC Clean Energy Technology Center) at jplindem@ncsu.edu.
- Check out our (non-exhaustive) list of non-federal funding from other sources that may fit your energy and cost-saving goals.
What are examples of projects that have been selected for awards?
The funding from the Office of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program provided financial and technical assistance to 21 Tribes to connect homes to transmission and distribution that is powered by clean energy; provide electricity to unelectrified Tribal homes through zero-emissions energy systems; transition electrified Tribal homes to zero-emissions energy systems; and support associated home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install the zero-emissions energy systems. The program will also support clean energy workforce development opportunities in Indian Country.
Click here for the full list of first-round awards and here for the second round.
Where can I get more information?
- More information can be found at the BIA website.
- A presentation from the Department of the Interior is available.
- For more information, contact the Office of Indian Economic Development.
- In addition to the resources listed above, a variety of organizations offer technical assistance that may help you access these funds. They are listed on our Get Help page.
- For specific questions about this program or for more assistance, contact Sally Robertson at info@energyfundsforall.org.