Submissions open for Tribal Energy Development Capacity (US)

The Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant program seeks to develop the Tribal management, organizational and technical capacity needed to maximize the economic impact of energy resource development on federally recognized tribal land. TEDC grants equip federally recognized tribal entities to regulate and manage their energy resources through development of organizational and business structures and legal and regulatory infrastructure.

Examples of projects TEDC grants may fund include establishment of Tribal business charters under Federal, state, or Tribal law with a focus on energy resource development; adoption and/or implementation of a secured transactions code; feasibility studies on forming a Tribal utility authority; and development of Tribal energy regulations.

Funding Information

• Award ceiling: $450,000
• Award floor: $10,000
• Number of awards: 10-30

Eligible Activities

• Capacity developing activities include, but are not limited to:
  • Establishing of organizational structure(s) and/or business entity structure(s) capable of engaging in commercial energy development or management activities, including leasing property, meeting lending requirements, participate in standard business contracts, and forming joint venture partnerships; such as development of interconnection, creating an energy office, and electric vehicle business structure planning;
  • Establishing Tribal business charters under Federal law; corporations formed under Federal, state or Tribal incorporation codes; and Tribal utility authorities formed under Federal, state or Tribal codes;
  • Developing or enhancing Tribal energy policies; enacting Tribal energy regulations, such as leasing of surface land for energy development, establishing legal infrastructure for business formation, enacting ordinances to regulate or develop energy resources, and adopting a secured transactions code or a memorandum of understanding, compact, or letter of intent with the state to register liens attached pursuant to such a code;
  • Developing energy or fuel management strategies to plan for circumstances that put a significant financial and safety burden on Tribes.

Eligibility Criteria

• Only Indian Tribes and Tribal Energy Development Organizations (TEDOs) are eligible to receive TEDC grants for projects on Indian land, as provided under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, as amended and codified under section 3502 of title 25 of the United States Code (25 U.S.C. § 3502 (a)). TEDC grants may only fund projects occurring on Indian land as defined in the under 25 U.S.C. § 3502. All grant applications must be accompanied by a Tribal resolution stating the Tribe’s commitment to fully comply with grant award requirements and identifying the Tribal grant lead point of contact. If there exists within the Tribal government a policy, procedure, or other business rule that clearly establishes said authority to commit the Tribe a complying with the terms of grant awards and accompanied by a written statement from the authorized Tribal POC explicitly committing the Tribe to fully complying with the terms of the TEDC award as stated in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). In this case only, grant applications may be accompanied by a written Tribal statement of commitment other than but of like effect to a Tribal resolution only. Upon successful award of the grant, the Department shall direct all grant funding to the successful Tribal grantee. The Tribal grantee will then be responsible for distributing monies within the Tribe, Tribal Energy Development Organization, or other Tribal grant management office as needed.
• The applicant determines who will conduct its study. An applicant has several choices, including but not limited to:
  • Qualified tribal or TEDO personnel;
  • Universities and colleges;
  • Private consulting firms; and
  • Other appropriate entities with capacity to perform the work.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Federal Agencies are not allowed to perform work on these grants or to receive funding from awarded grant funds.

Application Requirements

• Applicants must include a critical information page that includes:
  • A designated Tribal representative (and their contact information)
  • Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
  • Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) number

Review Criteria

• Upon receiving a TEDC application, DEMD will determine whether the application is complete and that the proposed project does not duplicate or overlap previous or currently funded DEMD technical assistance projects. Any proposal that is received after the deadline of this notice will not be reviewed.

For more information, visit Grants.Gov.