Near-term goals to advance energy development while strengthening Tribal capacity, all while increasing long-term economic benefits.
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
August 5, 2026
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WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (IE) released its Strategic Plan, marking a bold step forward in advancing affordable, reliable, and secure energy solutions for Tribal Nations across the United States. IE works with Tribes to identify, develop, and implement projects that serve the energy needs of their communities, whether it be installing energy projects, supporting Tribal utilities, or planning large scale commercial development. IE is working to unleash American energy through approaches grounded in Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. These outcomes will advance DOE’s goals for expanding domestic energy production, lowering energy costs, and strengthening energy reliability and security.
“Tribal Nations possess extensive energy resources and are well-positioned to share in the prosperity of American energy dominance,” said IE Director Eric Mahroum. “Yet too many Tribal communities continue to face challenges accessing affordable, reliable, and secure energy. This plan provides a clear roadmap for advancing Tribal energy leadership, strengthening self-determination and sovereignty, and expanding opportunities for Tribes to develop their energy resources. Guided by our core values, we will carry out this work with urgency, transparency, and deep respect for the principle that Tribes know best how to serve their citizens.”
Addressing Critical Challenges
IE’s Strategic Plan responds to four urgent challenges facing Indian Country:
- Systemic energy insecurity on Tribal lands
- Inadequate staffing and technical capacity for energy initiatives
- Unrealized potential of Tribal energy resource wealth
- Administrative and regulatory barriers to energy project development.
Goals
IE is focused on four cross-cutting goals:
- Improve electricity access, costs, and service for Tribal communities—aiming to eliminate the electricity access gap and reduce energy burdens.
- Grow the Tribal workforce to lead energy initiatives—supporting skills, training, and career opportunities for Tribal members.
- Unlock the energy wealth of Tribal nations—making DOE’s technical resources available, delivering critical grant funding, and fostering new partnerships.
- Cut red tape for Tribes developing energy projects—streamlining federal processes and empowering Tribal self-determination.
By 2030, IE aims to deliver more than $2 billion in cumulative energy cost savings, install 100 megawatts of new generation capacity, and support 450 Tribe-led energy and infrastructure projects. Together, these goals reflect a deliberate shift toward increasing energy development while also strengthening Tribal control, capacity, and long-term economic benefits. This framework establishes a clear line of sight from goals to outcomes and ensures IE’s work results in tangible improvements for Indian Tribes.
These actions align with Administration and Departmental priorities to unleash American energy, strengthen grid reliability, and foster innovation. IE is accelerating progress on new energy projects, expanding economic opportunities, and building the pipeline for the next generation of Tribal energy leaders.
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