News and Events
News and events of interest to Tribal Energy and Environmental Information Clearinghouse (TEEIC) users.
Oct. 2, 2009
19th Annual Indian Land Consolidation Symposium, October 26-30, 2009
The 19th Annual Indian Land Consolidation Symposium will be held October 26-30, 2009 at the Cherokee Nation Hardrock Hotel and Casino in Catoosa, OK. The symposium will be hosted by the Cherokee Nation.
The 19th Annual Conference theme “Restoration of Our Lands & Resources” will place special focus on options for native land restoration – bringing lands within native territories into tribal use, management and control. This includes federal land transfers, fee to trust, use of “essential governmental functions”, and land acquisition financing options.
For more information, see the Symposium Web page on Indian Land Working Group Web site.
Sep 8, 2009
Indian Education Renewable Energy Challenge
The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) are sponsoring the Indian Student Renewable Energy Challenge, a contest open to students in tribal colleges, tribally operated high schools, and BIE high schools to promote an understanding of renewable energy development opportunities. Specifically, the challenge is to develop designs for small wind turbine systems that will harness wind energy, store it mechanically or electrically and then use the stored energy to power an array of LEDs.
Competitive designs must be submitted by October 31, 2009.
For more information, see the Indian Education Renewable Energy Challenge announcement, which includes design specifications, or the contest flyer. You may also contact Ashley Stockdale (IEED) at (202) 219-0740 with questions.
Sep 8, 2009
Indian Energy Solutions Conference to Be Held November 3 – 5, 2009, in Tulsa, OK
The annual Indian Energy Solutions (IES) conference brings together Tribal leaders, industry experts, and government representatives to explore and understand current trends in energy development and how they may address the needs of Tribal communities. The conference, organized by the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, will be hosted by The Osage Nation. The conference will include three days of technical talks and the 30th annual American Spirit Award Dinner.
The conference will feature general sessions and special breakout sessions on subjects from global climate change to strategies for increasing production from Indian oil and gas resources; and from Indian issues with renewed power production stemming from the last nuclear power boom to reports on Indian energy policy efforts by Tribes to overcome barriers to Tribal development of Tribal energy resources.
For more information, see the Indian Energy Solutions Conference brochure and Web site.
Sep 8, 2009
Native American Energy Auditor Training Course
The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) has entered into a partnership with the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada and the United Tribes Technical College to provide training to Native Americans in energy auditing.
For more information, see the program brochure.
Aug 13, 2009
Secretary Chu Announces Funding for Clean Energy Projects on Tribal Lands and Alaska Villages
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $13.6 million in multi-year funding for new clean energy projects on tribal lands. Thirty-six Native American tribes and Alaska villages have been selected to receive awards that will advance renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency and conservation projects on tribal lands and rural Alaska villages.
These projects were selected through a competitive process under three Funding Opportunity Announcements offered through the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Tribal Energy Program. Financial assistance is being provided to Tribes for weatherization training, feasibility studies, and development and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
For more information, see the DOE News Release.
July 16, 2009
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program Application Deadline Extended to August 10, 2009
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs is administering the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) Program through which $58.4 million in funding will be granted to tribes to fund energy efficiency projects in Indian Country. Specifically, the program will provide formula grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. The deadline for applications has been extended to August 10, 2009.
For more information, see the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Web site.
July 13, 2009
Great Plains Region Wind Energy Summit to Be Held July 28 -29, 2009, in Rapid City, SD
The Great Plains Wind Energy Summit will be held July 28 -29, 2009 at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Rapid City, SD. The Summit will be co-sponsored by the Great Plains Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department of Interior.
The Great Plains Wind Energy Summit seeks to expand communication between Tribes and the Department of the Interior about all phases of wind energy development and transmission line placement in Indian Country.
Individuals who work with wind and other forms of energy development should attend, including Tribal Leaders and Energy Planners; Bureau of Indian Affairs and Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs staff; Affected Tribal, State, and Federal Agencies; and all others involved with Tribal Energy Development.
For more information see the attached Summit flyer and agenda.
April 9, 2009
Energy Resource Development Tribal Internship Program Application Deadline Extended to April 24, 2009
The application deadline for the Energy Resource Development Tribal Internship Program Application has been extended to April 24, 2009
On February 25, 2009, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development – Indian Affairs George T. Skibine announced a new effort to recruit and train American Indian and Alaska Native post-secondary students to become Indian Country’s next generation of tribal energy and natural resource management professionals. The Energy Resource Development Tribal Internship Program has been developed through a partnership between the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) to help increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives who can effectively manage a tribe’s energy and natural resources.
For more information, see the Argonne Division of Educational Programs announcement.
March 25, 2009
Grant Program To Assess, Evaluate and Promote Development of Tribal Energy and Mineral Resources
The Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) provides funding to tribes with the mission goal of assessing, evaluating, and promoting energy and mineral resources on Indian trust lands for the economic benefit of Indian mineral owners. To achieve these goals, the Department of the Interior’s Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), through its Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) office, is soliciting proposals from tribes. The Department will use a competitive evaluation process to select several proposed projects to receive an award.
For more information see the Federal Register Notice:
Federal Register Notice: Grant Program To Assess, Evaluate and Promote Development of Tribal Energy and Mineral Resources (77 KB)
March 9, 2009
Secretary Salazar Announces Web-Based Clearinghouse to Simplify Energy Permitting on Tribal Lands
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), has launched a website to create a web-based clearinghouse of environmental information that will support American Indian and Alaska Native traditional and renewable energy resource development.
The Tribal Environmental and Energy Information Clearinghouse (TEEIC), which can be accessed via http://teeic.anl.gov, creates a knowledge base for tribes and tribal organizations that can assist them in capacity-building efforts to develop environmental analysis and evaluation programs and processes that further their energy and economic development goals. “The Tribal Environmental and Energy Information Clearinghouse initiative is an excellent example of how we can support the goal of increasing traditional and renewable energy development on tribal lands, thereby enhancing economic development opportunities for Indian tribes, while ensuring that such activities are conducted in an environmentally sound manner,” Secretary Salazar said.
For more information, see the Department of the Interior press release:
February 25, 2009
Energy Resource Development Tribal Internship Program Announced
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development – Indian Affairs George T. Skibine today announced a new effort to recruit and train American Indian and Alaska Native post-secondary students to become Indian Country’s next generation of tribal energy and natural resource management professionals. The Energy Resource Development Tribal Internship Program has been developed through a partnership between the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to help increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives who can effectively manage a tribe’s energy and natural resources.
For more information, see the IEED press release
