From 2012 to 2018, the Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) Program assisted tribes in the 48 contiguous states and Alaska with renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The program is now complete. Through START, technical experts from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy and DOE Laboratories coordinated with tribal leadership and staff to work toward achieving project goals. 

48 Contiguous States

START assistance in the 48 contiguous states addressed late-stage project development decisions, negotiations, and agreements. Tribal project teams received technical expertise and guidance on a number of topics including revenue generation and financing structures; technical viability, maintenance, measurement and verification plans, and siting; communication and outreach strategies; and developing requests for proposals with the appropriate technical guidelines and selection criteria.

Alaska

START assisted rural Alaska Native communities with developing strategic energy plans, conducting energy awareness and training programs, and pursuing new energy and energy efficiency opportunities. Project teams worked together to reduce the cost and use of energy for rural Alaska consumers and communities, provide training and public education, and increase energy deployment and financing opportunities.

START Projects

The START Program supported 30 tribes and Alaska Native villages with moving energy and energy efficiency closer to implementation. 

Location Tribe Project Year News
Alaska Hoonah Indian Association Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Alaska Energy in Action: START Round 3 Updates
Alaska Huslia Village Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Alaska Energy in Action: START Round 3 Updates
Alaska Kokhanok Village Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Alaska Energy in Action: START Round 3 Updates
Alaska Organized Village of Kwethluk Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Alaska Energy in Action: START Round 3 Updates
Alaska Native Village of Shungnak Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Alaska Energy in Action: START Round 3 Updates
California Blue Lake Rancheria Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Blue Lake Rancheria Kicks Off Solar System Construction
Colorado Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2015 Biomass Adventures and More: Ute Mountain Ute Youth Energy Day
Minnesota Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians Community-Scale Wind 2015 Energy Department Selects Five Native American Communities to Receive Technical Assistance for Tribal Renewable Energy Project Development
New Mexico PIcuris Pueblo Community-Scale Solar 2015 Five Tribes Benefit from Hands-On Training in Solar Operations and Maintenance
Wisconsin Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin Community-Scale Solar 2015 Energy Department Selects 11 Tribal Communities to Deploy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies
Alaska Native Village of Kongiganak Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2013 Winning the Future: Chaninik Wind Group Pursues Innovative Solutions to Native Alaska Energy Challenges
Alaska Native Village of Koyukuk Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2013 Alaska Native Communities Receive Technical Assistance for Local Clean Energy Development
Alaska Native Village of Minto Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2013 Minto Upgrades Community Lodge with START Support
Alaska Native Village of Shishmaref Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2013 Shishmaref Gets DOE Support on Energy and Resiliency
Alaska Yakutat T'lingit Tribe Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2013 Alaska Native Communities Receive Technical Assistance for Local Clean Energy Development
Alaska Chugachmiut Regional Corporation Community-Scale Biomass 2013 Energy Department Announces New Technical Assistance for Tribal Clean Energy Projects
Arizona San Carlos Apache Tribe Facility-Scale Solar PV System 2013 Energy Department Announces New Technical Assistance for Tribal Clean Energy Projects
California Pinoleville Pomo Nation Community-Scale Solar 2013 Energy Department Announces New Technical Assistance for Tribal Clean Energy Projects
Colorado Southern Ute Indian Tribe Community-Scale Solar PV System 2013 Southern Ute Indian Tribe Dedicates 1.3-MW Community Solar PV System
Wisconsin Ho-Chunk Nation Community-Scale Biomass 2013 Energy Department Announces New Technical Assistance for Tribal Clean Energy Projects
Alaska Arctic Village Council Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2012 Alaska Native Tribes Receive Technical Assistance for Local Clean Energy Projects
Alaska Native Village of Kwinhagak Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2012 Alaska Native Tribes Receive Technical Assistance for Local Clean Energy Projects
Alaska Native Village of Teller Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2012 Native Village of Teller Addresses Heating Fuel Shortage, Improves Energy Security
Alaska Organized Village of Kake Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2012 Strategic Planning Opens Doors for Isolated Alaskan Village
Alaska Venetie Village Council Community Energy Planning and Clean Energy Projects 2012 Alaska Native Tribes Receive Technical Assistance for Local Clean Energy Projects
Arizona Pascua Yaqui Tribe Facility-Scale Solar PV System 2012 Tribal Energy Projects Benefit from Hands-On Technical Support
Arizona Hualapai Tribe Solar PV Micro-Grid System 2012 Tribal Energy Projects Benefit from Hands-On Technical Support
California Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Commercial-Scale Wind Farm 2012 New Tribal Nations Energy Initiatives
New Mexico Pueblo of Zuni Facility-Scale Solar PV System 2012 STEM Students Aim to Increase Tribal Self-Sufficiency
Wisconsin Forest County Potawatomi Community Community-Scale Biomass 2012 Forest County Potawatomi Recognized for Renewable Energy Achievements