U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy

08/21/2026

👀 ICYMI: DOE Office of Indian Energy Releases Strategic Plan highlighting near-term goals to advance energy development while strengthening Tribal capacity, all while increasing long-term economic benefits.

Goals:
✔️ Improve electricity access, costs, and service for Tribal communities
✔️ Grow the Tribal workforce to lead energy initiatives
✔️ Unlock the energy wealth of Tribal nations
✔️ Cut red tape for Tribes developing energy projects.

Together, these goals reflect a deliberate shift toward increasing energy development while also strengthening Tribal control, capacity, and long-term economic benefits. This framework establishes a clear line of sight from goals to outcomes and ensures IE's work results in tangible improvements for Indian Tribes.

Near-term goals to advance energy development while strengthening Tribal capacity, all while increasing long-term economic benefits.

08/20/2026

⏱️ ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY! Application period closes on August 27, 2026.

The Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — through its Administration for Native Americans (ANA) — has issued three new Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for Fiscal Year 2026.

Eligible organizations can apply now for funding to advance Native-led innovation across three key areas.

Released Funding Opportunities:
💲 AI3 Action Institute — Artificial Intelligence for American Indians
💲 Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE)
💲 National Center for Native Training and Technical Assistance (NCNTTA)

➡️ Next steps: The application window is open for 30 days and will close August 27, 2026. Eligible organizations should carefully review the announcements and begin the application process.

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08/19/2026

📣 CALLING ALL TRIBES! Applications are open for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), which
connects communities to local organizations and four DOE National Labs to help them successfully address challenges related to energy generation and storage, energy savings, transmission and distribution, workforce development, regulatory issues, and more.

💲Communities accepted to ETIPP are also eligible to receive direct funding.

📆 Application period runs from August 13 to November 18, 2026, and prospective applicants are required to meet with a regional partner to discuss their project proposal before applying.

Learn more:

NLR manages the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), which provides energy planning and technical assistance to coastal, remote, and island communities for energy system analysis and resilience planning.

08/18/2026

📣 Tribal Entities: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened applications for host institutions for the Energy Innovator Fellowship (EIF)!

The EIF program offers recent graduates and early-career professionals a valuable opportunity to collaborate with critical energy organizations on host-driven projects, helping to grow Tribal energy capacity and career opportunities.

Since 2024, the Office of Indian Energy has placed fellows in host organizations like Tribal governments, including natural resources departments, Tribal Colleges and Tribal utilities, and intertribal organizations working on technologies from microgrids to distributed general and energy efficiency to standing up Tribal utilities.

Host institution applications are due October 2, 2026, at 3:00 pm ET.

Join us for an application informational webinar on September 2, 2026, at 3:00 pm ET.

Learn more:

Tribal Entities can now apply to host an Energy Innovator Fellow for a one- to two-year fellowship funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

08/17/2026

📣 CALLING ALL INDIAN TRIBES! DOE wants YOUR input!

The Office of Electricity seeks public comment on the draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study.

This report shows the pressing need for more electric transmission infrastructure to power an affordable, reliable, and secure grid. The draft identifies where grid constraints are emerging, where congestion is most acute, and where new or upgraded transmission can deliver the greatest reliability benefits.

DOE invites feedback from local communities, Tribal Nations, states, regional reliability entities, and the general public. Your input will help shape the final study and guide future planning and investment decisions. Share your input by September 7.

Additional information is available on our website: https://bit.ly/4wAcfFP

08/14/2026

📣 IMPORTANT: The application period closes on August 27, 2026.

The Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — through its Administration for Native Americans (ANA) — has issued three new Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for Fiscal Year 2026.

Eligible organizations can apply now for funding to advance Native-led innovation across three key areas.

Released Funding Opportunities:
💲 AI3 Action Institute — Artificial Intelligence for American Indians
💲 Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE)
💲 National Center for Native Training and Technical Assistance (NCNTTA)

➡️ Next steps: The application window is open for 30 days and will close August 27, 2026. Eligible organizations should carefully review the announcements and begin the application process.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

08/13/2026

Recently, Office of Indian Energy Director Eric Mahroum and DOE Tribal Affairs Specialist Tommy Jones met with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, DOE Energy Innovator Fellow Mia Wei, and Navajo Nation staff to discuss shared priorities, including energy expansion, economic growth, grid resilience, and workforce development.

DOE has a longstanding partnership with the Navajo Nation, and this meeting was to foster direct dialogue on current opportunities and challenges and reinforce the Office of Indian Energy's commitment to supporting Navajo Nation's energy goals that advance lasting benefits for Navajo communities.

08/13/2026

Last week, Office of Indian Energy Director Eric Mahroum and DOE Tribal Affairs Specialist Tommy Jones met with Laguna Pueblo Governor Harry A. Antonio Jr. and members of the Pueblo Laguna government to learn about the intersection of legacy uranium mining issues and future energy development, workforce opportunities, and Tribal priorities.

The Pueblo also discussed how they are exploring public-private partnerships to achieve their cleanup and critical mineral recovery goals. Leveraging public-private partnerships is one of Director Mahroum’s priorities.

08/12/2026

💻 WEBINAR: Register to attend the Tribal Economies Webinar Series! In response to Tribal leader feedback, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Tribal and Native Affairs are holding a webinar series to support Tribal access to capital through creative financing strategies. Webinar events include:

August 19 📆 Attracting Private Capital in Indian Country Through Tax Credit Financing

September 23📆 Bond Finance in Tribal Communities

The events are free to attend. Registration is required: