US Department of Energy makes sovereign nations clean energy push [Video]

SPOKANE, Wash.- The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $25 million for clean energy projects on tribal land on Feb. 27.

The funding is open to federally recognized sovereign nations, who can apply for funding until May 30. According to the DOE, the effort is a response to disparities in utility costs faced by indigenous communities.

“Many Indian Tribes pay more than four times the national average on utility bills and some families do not have electricity for light or refrigeration,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said.

The Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs will work with tribes interested in receiving funding, though it is not currently clear when the selected tribes will be announced.

DOE resources were utilized by the Spokane Tribe of Indians to undertake a $2 million solar installation project which lowered utility bills for the sovereign nation.

It is unclear whether any tribes in Washington State will apply for this new round of DOE funding.

FOX28 Spokane©