Secretary Chu Announces Funding for Clean Energy Projects on Tribal Lands and Alaska Villages

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Anchorage, AK – August 13, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — 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.

“The Department of Energy is committed to helping Native American tribes meet their energy needs through clean energy technologies,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will create jobs and economic opportunities on tribal lands, while protecting our planet and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

In Alaska, many rural Native villages face the special challenge of paying high retail fuel prices to meet basic survival needs. Heating oil and diesel fuel is expensive, and the situation becomes even more burdensome for rural communities with the increased costs for transportation and storage. For those Alaska Native communities and many other tribes struggling in the current economy, renewable energy and greater efficiency can provide reliable power supplies while reducing heating and electricity costs.

DOE selected the projects through a competitive process and will provide financial assistance to the tribes for weatherization training, feasibility studies, and development and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. The DOE funding is expected to be matched by up to $27 million in public and private investment, for a total value of up to $41 million.

Of the 36 Native American tribes and villages whose projects have been selected for negotiation, 8 projects will provide weatherization training and resources to tribal members, 17 projects will focus on assessing the feasibility of renewable energy development and energy efficiency deployment on tribal lands; and 11 projects will fund the development of renewable energy resources and the deployment of energy efficiency measures on tribal lands and villages.

Since 2002, the Department of Energy has provided $16.5 million for 93 tribal energy projects.

Read more on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Tribal Energy Program.

The following table lists projects selected for award negotiations. DOE funding is subject to negotiation and annual congressional appropriations.

Applicant* Application Type Technology State Requested DOE Funds Estimated Cost Share Projected Project Cost

Renewable Energy Development and Deployment Projects

Campo Band of Mission Indians Pre-Construction Wind (160 MW) CA $1,255,574 $4,234,750 $5,490,324
Chaninik Wind Group Building Efficiency Wind (1.35 MW) and Thermal Heating AK $750,000 $1,250,000 $2,000,000
Cherokee Nation Business Pre- Construction Wind (127.5 MW) OK $990,500 $1,286,621 $2,277,121
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Building Efficiency Lighting, Building Envelop & HVAC NC $200,000 $200,000 $400,000
Forest County Potawatomi Community Building Efficiency Lighting WI $459,000 $459,000 $918,000
Forest County Potawatomi Community Building Efficiency Envelop, Heating & Cooling, Electrical and Plumbing WI $1,115,043 $1,115,043 $2,230,086
Haida Power, Inc. Construction Hydroelectric (5 MW) AK $1,120,000 $16,025,000 $17,145,000
Hualapai Tribe Pre- Construction Wind AZ $370,000 $185,000 $555,000
Kootznoowoo Incorporated Pre- Construction Hydroelectric (1 MW) AK $1,110,500 $1,110,500 $2,221,000
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Pre- Construction Wind (190 MW) SD $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $3,000,000
The Chickasaw Nation Building Efficiency Lighting OK $200,000 $100,000 $300,000

Feasibility Study Projects

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Feasibility: Renewables Solar CA $150,000 $38,102 $188,102
Chickaloon Native Village Feasibility EE & RE AK $244,106 $0 $244,106
Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. Feasibility: Efficiency Bldg. Efficiency AK $57,184 $0 $57,184
Elk Valley Rancheria Feasibility: Efficiency Bldg. Efficiency, General Renewables, Geothermal, Wave, Wind, Solar CA $76,738 $6,755 $83,493
Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes Feasibility: Renewables Geothermal Electrical MT $233,170 $0 $233,170
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Feasibility: Renewables Wind OK $242,586 $15,751 $258,337
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Feasibility: Renewables Wind MI $207,680 $15,000 $222,680
Lac Court Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Feasibility: Renewables Hydro-power WI $201,643 $0 $201,643
Lower Sioux Indian Community Feasibility: Renewables Wind MN $250,000 $100,290 $350,290
Lummi Indian Business Council (WIND) Feasibility: Renewables Wind WA $180,000 $0 $180,000
Native Village of Eyak Feasibility: Renewables Wind AK $248,107 $29,440 $277,547
Pinoleville Pomo Nation Feasibility: Renewables MicroHydro; Geothermal; Biomass; Wind; Solar CA $101,630 $4,860 $106,490
Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa Feasibility: Renewables Wind IA $246,770 $8,052 $254,822
Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Feasibility: Efficiency Building Efficiency MI $95,000 $0 $95,000
To’Hajiilee Economic Development, Inc. Feasibility: Renewables Solar NM $250,000 $0 $250,000
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Feasibility: Renewables Wind WA $140,000 $0 $140,000
Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Feasibility: Renewables Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass & Biofuels NV $249,827 $0 $249,827

Weatherization Training

Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indians Weatherization Training Alaska Native Weatherization Training & Jobs Project AK $200,000 $115,871 $315,871
Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. Weatherization Training Weatherization Apprenticeships AK $194,454 $18,660 $213,114
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Weatherization Training Weatherization Training Project MI $137,640 $0 $137,640
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Weatherization Training Weatherization Center WI $143,717 $0 $143,717
Peoria Tribe – Housing Authority of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma Weatherization Training PHA Weatherization Training Project OK $105,620 $0 $105,620
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Weatherization Training Multi-County Weatherization Program CA $240,200 $0 $240,200

* Listed in alphabetical order

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The U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) provides information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy  works to strengthen the United States' energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships. It supports this goal through: Enhancing energy efficiency and productivity, Bringing clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace, and Making a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.

Contact:

Office of the Assistant Secretary
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Mail Stop EE-1
Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585

Phone: 1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463)

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