The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced more than $125 million in funding for 63 tribe-led projects across 16 states, including Alaska, to reduce electricity costs, expand energy access and support economic development in tribal communities.

The projects, involving 61 tribal entities, have been selected for award negotiations and aim to address longstanding energy challenges while strengthening tribal economies. The investment aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order, Unleashing American Energy.

“President Trump has prioritized delivering affordable, reliable, and secure energy to the American people since day one, and this administration is taking decisive action to deliver on that commitment,” said US Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly.

“This historic investment will help address longstanding energy challenges facing tribal communities by lowering electricity costs, expanding access to reliable power, and creating new opportunities for economic development. We are ensuring that tribal communities have the energy resources they need to grow and prosper.”

Eric Mahroum, director of the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy, said the funding represents the office’s largest-ever single investment in tribal energy development in its 20-year history.

“With this announcement, the Office of Indian Energy is making the largest-ever single investment in tribal energy development in the office’s 20-year history,” said DOE's Office of Indian Energy Director Eric Mahroum.

“These projects represent a new and expanded direction for the Office, and for the first time, we’re supporting projects at any phase of development and with a broad set of technologies and approaches. Our goal is to support tribes to advance high-value energy projects, including large scale projects like generation, transmission, distribution, and critical mineral projects.”

The selected projects fall into three categories covering energy deployment, project preparation and large-scale development.

Thirteen projects will focus on installing community-scale energy systems, extending electricity service to 150 tribal homes currently without power, converting 500 homes and businesses to natural gas heating, and upgrading electrical infrastructure to improve reliability.

A further 27 projects will support predevelopment activities to identify energy opportunities and prepare projects for implementation. These initiatives include studies covering tribal utility authorities, electricity transmission and distribution, energy resource assessments, resilience measures and workforce development.

The remaining 23 projects will focus on planning, assessments and feasibility studies for large-scale tribal energy developments, with the aim of reducing project risks and creating opportunities for revenue generation and economic growth.

These projects include identifying geothermal and other energy resources to provide baseload electricity, improve backup power resilience and generate income through electricity sales.

The DOE said the investment is intended to help tribal communities advance energy projects at different stages of development, supporting improved electricity access, infrastructure reliability and long-term economic opportunities. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service