New bill could strengthen tribal energy independence
Legislation introduced by Senators Schatz and Curtis seeks to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles to increase energy opportunities for Native communities
This news brief is based on information provided in a press release from U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Curtis (R-Utah).
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Curtis (R-Utah) have introduced the Tribal Energy Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill designed to enhance Tribal energy sovereignty by removing barriers that hinder access to federal energy programs. This legislation directly addresses long-standing issues related to energy development and infrastructure on tribal lands.
The bill aims to provide Native nations with greater flexibility to access existing federal energy programs, help lower costs, boost energy reliability and promote self-sufficiency. One of the key provisions is the elimination of the “double benefit restriction” under the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program, allowing Tribes to combine federal funding sources for up to 100% of project costs. The bill also removes the cost-share requirement and authorizes the Department of Energy to provide technical assistance for potential loan awardees.
In addition, the bill would ease access to the Grid Resilience Grant funds, which are essential for improving energy infrastructure, especially in the wake of natural disasters. Tribes would no longer be required to sub-grant these funds to utility providers, enabling them to directly utilize these resources for local energy resilience projects.
The Tribal Energy Fairness Act has garnered support from a wide range of tribal leaders and organizations, including Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman Jacob Keyes. These leaders emphasized that the bill’s passage would help create jobs, strengthen communities and enhance energy security for Native peoples.
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