Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy Transition - 2025

The Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy Transition is a planned funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs. The Office is authorized under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act of 2005, also known as Title V of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, to support programs that promote Indian tribal energy development, efficiency, and use. Their mission includes reducing energy costs, strengthening infrastructure, and increasing access to reliable electricity on Tribal lands. Between 2010 and 2022, the DOE Office of Indian Energy invested over $120 million across 210 tribal energy projects, with additional $75 million committed in 2023. These initiatives aim to accelerate clean energy technology deployment in Tribal communities and advance Tribal energy sovereignty. This planned Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), expected to be released in late Summer 2024, is specifically designed to provide financial support to Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). The goal is to assist these institutions in planning the transition of their campuses to clean energy sources. This effort supports the broader goal of energy independence and environmental sustainability within tribal education systems. The funding is intended for comprehensive energy transition planning efforts, not implementation or construction, and will be structured as competitive grants. Eligible applicants are limited to Tribal Colleges and Universities located in the contiguous United States or Alaska, as defined under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 and the Higher Education Act of 1965. The definition includes institutions formally controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by tribal governing bodies. Only one institution per tribe is eligible. Diné College and institutions listed under the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 are included. Applications from consortia of TCUs will be accepted, but must be submitted by a single representative institution. The anticipated total funding available for this FOA is approximately $5 million. Individual awards are expected to range from $100,000 to $250,000 for planning activities. The estimated period of performance for each grant will span two to three years. Notably, there is no cost share or matching funds requirement for this opportunity. The DOE expects to issue multiple awards. The evaluation process will include technical merit as well as policy considerations such as geographic diversity, energy cost burdens, grid independence, and applicant grant history. Applications will not be accepted via Grants.gov; instead, they must be submitted through the IE-Exchange portal at https://ie-exchange.energy.gov. To prepare for submission, applicants must complete several registrations including IE-Exchange, System for Award Management (SAM), FedConnect, and Grants.gov for updates. The application will not be accepted through Grants.gov but subscribing for amendment alerts is recommended. While this is only a Notice of Intent (NOI) and not a solicitation, interested applicants should begin preparations and registrations as soon as possible. Once the FOA is issued, DOE will provide mechanisms for applicant questions and clarifications. The FOA may differ from the details in this NOI or may not be released at all, depending on DOE's discretion. If released as described, the FOA will offer a significant opportunity for TCUs to begin strategic energy planning to support a cleaner, more resilient energy future.