Resource Library
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A Guide for Clean Energy Development for U.S. Tribes
This website serves as a resource guide for tribal communities interested in developing clean energy projects for their tribal members or on tribal lands. This website compiles resources of need-to-know information that is specific to clean energy development for tribal communities – including information about project ownership structures, legal pathways/barriers to development, and organizations currently leading this work to collaborate with. It includes a step-by-step guide for tribal communities to utilize when starting this process. All information shared on this website is from publicly available sources.
This is not an exhaustive list of information of resources, and this site is designed to be a living source of information that will be continuously updated with the most accurate information.
Ready to dive into the various categories of information related to clean energy project development for tribal communities?
Use the button below to check out this resource.Categories: Guidebook -
Addressing Regulatory Barriers to Tribal Solar Deployment
“Tribal land in the United States represents approximately 2% of the country’s total landmass and holds more than 5% of solar photovoltaic (PV) potential (Doris, Lopez, and Beckley 2013). This resource is largely untapped. Many Tribes are actively seeking to engage in solar development; a review of 35 Tribal strategic energy plans in 2019 revealed that 32 of 35 Tribes were exploring solar options for their communities. Many Tribes also cited regulatory hurdles to achieving these goals. This project, Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment, seeks to unlock some of this potential by bringing Tribal, regulatory, utility, and other stakeholders together to articulate key barriers to Tribal solar adoption and develop replicable solutions. By increasing institutional capacity and developing frameworks, trainings, and a targeted technical document repository for regulatory bodies, utilities, and Tribes, this project can help expand an emerging market.”
The collaborative efforts between National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA), the “Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook” has been officially published! We couldn’t have completed this project without the many contributions; from case study interviews, one on one conversations, and listening sessions. Miigwech – Thank you to everyone that contributed to this amazing project!
Categories: GuidebookTags: Community Solar -
The Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems
“This guidebook is intended to be a roadmap for project planners and solar advocates who want to create their own successful Solarize campaigns. It describes the key elements of the Solarize Portland campaigns and variations from projects across the country, along with lessons learned and planning templates.”
Categories: Guidebook -
A Guide to Community Shared Solar: Utility, Private, and Nonprofit Project Development
“This guide is a resource for those who want to develop community shared solar projects, from community organizers or solar energy advocates to government officials or utility managers. By exploring the range of incentives and policies while providing examples of operational community shared solar projects, this guide will help communities plan and implement successful energy projects. In addition, by highlighting some policy best practices, this guide suggests changes in the regulatory landscape that could significantly boost community shared solar installations across the nation.”
Categories: Guidebook -
Renewable Energy Development in Indian Country: A Handbook for Tribes
“[…] this Handbook is intended to provide tribal leaders, tribal economic and energy enterprises and those supporting them with:
- a general overview of the renewable energy project development process;
- […] how to structure a renewable energy project transaction to protect tribal interests […];
- a general overview of key energy development agreements, including power sale agreements, transmission and interconnection agreements, and land leases; and
- […] ways tribes can finance renewable energy projects”
Categories: Guidebook