Everyone here at the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Associationwishes you a happy holiday season! MTERA is a non-profit intertribal organization comprised of Midwest Tribes. We are planning and pursuing innovative Tribal energy projects that respect the sovereignty and unique culture of individual Member Tribes, while leveraging the collective strength and resources of all Midwest Tribes.
MTERA is proud to announce that as of November 16th, we are one Member Tribe bigger. We are so happy to welcome the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe and their appointed representative Kathie Brosemer. We look forward to collaborating and helping with your ongoing energy journey! Read the full announcement on our blog page.
Additionally, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan recently filmed and produced a video showcasing how they built their own substation and created the SCIT Tribal Electric Authority! Take 5 minutes and watch their journey below!
From energy audits, creating strategic energy plans, feasibility studies, to supporting projects like the one here, MTERA is so happy to help Tribes achieve greater energy sovereignty. To learn more or become a Member Tribe or Associate Member, check out MTERA's home on the web!
Now that we know everything; take a look at some upcoming events, important policy updates, funding opportunities, and news you can use:
Upcoming Events
Tribal Community-Scale Solar, Solutions for Climate & Community Resilience
6 December 2021
11:30 - 2:00 pm CST
For Tribal nations seeking to build or expand solar energy development at any scale, this virtual workshop will cover planning, feasibility, system design, interconnectivity, economics regulatory requirements, and more. Hosted by Blue Lake Rancheria and funded by DOE SETO.
Hosted by the U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy, this webinar focuses on the process of development utility-scale solar PV on Tribal lands by examining process and including lessons learned from successful projects to date.
The 4th Annual Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy and Sustainability Conference will focus on the newly changing landscape for Tribal energy development and sustainability.
Funding Agency: Dept. of Energy The Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Initiative, a program by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Sandia National Laboratories, is designed to empower urban, rural, and tribal disadvantaged communities to consider energy storage technologies and applications as a viable path towards community prosperity, well-being, and resilience. The primary goal is to support disadvantaged communities affected by unreliable and expensive energy systems. Through this program, eligible communities have access to direct non-financial technical assistance and potential support for new energy storage project development and deployment.
Funding Agency: Dept. of Energy A new pilot initiative to support communities currently experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. Applicants must register to apply for this opportunity.
Linked above, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Tribal Provisions include $3 billion over 5 years for the Tribal Transportation Program, resources for grid infrastructure and resilience, clean energy technology, energy efficiency and building infrastructure, $3.5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and more.
To read the complete Tribal Provisions, click the bolded, red header above. More detailed information to come!
