Tribal Clean Energy Deployment Underway

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Sustainable Energy

Native Brief: WASHINGTON - The US Department of Energy launched today the Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) initiative aimed at advancing clean energy generation in Indian Country and providing federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native governments with technical assistance to accelerate clean energy project deployment.

This effort furthers the Administration and Department's commitment to provide Tribes with the tools and resources they need to foster tribal energy self-sufficiency and sustainability, advancing economic competitiveness and job creation.

"By leveraging our technical resources and expertise we will help Tribal communities, entrepreneurs and small businesses create jobs, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and build a sustainable energy future," said Secretary Chu.

“Working together, we can strengthen the energy security and economic competitiveness of Tribal homes and businesses.”

Through START, Department of Energy and National Laboratory experts will work directly with community-based project teams to evaluate financial and technical feasibility and provide early development technical assistance to get these projects better positioned for financing and construction. This initiative complements the Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy's efforts to make reliable and technical information and training available to Tribal communities throughout the United States.

The START initiative will further serve to help American Indian and Alaska Native communities increase local generation capacity, enhance energy efficiency and conservation measures and create entrepreneurial and job opportunities in the new clean energy economy. Awards through this initiative will be provided through two programs:

START Program: Tribes selected for this program will be paired with Department of Energy experts who have clean energy deployment experience relevant to the selected Tribe's project development stage and technology.

Alaska START Program: Leveraging the combined technical expertise and resources of the Department of Energy and the Denali Commission, this program will help selected Alaska Native communities conduct community-based planning and training and implement a variety of clean energy projects such as energy storage infrastructure, renewable energy deployment and housing energy efficiency.

posted December 5, 2011 6:57 am est