Dan has been working with Tribes in the energy space for more than a decade and believes there is opportunity in Tribal energy development.
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
April 20, 2026
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Dan Kaim has served as the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy’s Notice of Funding Opportunity Manager on the Deployment team since 2025.
Dan has been working with Tribes in the energy space for more than a decade and believes there is opportunity in Tribal energy development.
“I think there is much to be gained by Tribes establishing their own Tribal utilities,” he said. “This gives the Tribes the ability to negotiate with the utility companies on an equal basis. I believe Tribes should evaluate energy easements on their lands to ensure they are being properly compensated.”
Dan is inspired by the Southern Ute’s journey of going from leasing their minerals to outside companies, to developing their own resources for the Tribe’s own benefit.
“It’s a tough path to emulate but it’s a great example of what is possible for other Tribes,” he said. Because of the Southern Ute experience, Dan believes more Tribes can realize benefits from controlling their own energy assets.
Dan is convinced that the Office of Indian Energy’s technical support and funding leads to bigger things for Tribal energy development.
“The projects our office supports allow the Tribes to take the first steps,” he pointed out. “This helps to be able to control the energy they generate and use. And that’s only the beginning.”
Dan grew up in South Jersey where he met his wife, Michelle. He spent four years serving in the U.S. Army as a cavalry scout with the 82nd Airborne Division, and he deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon leaving the Army, he studied petroleum engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He worked with the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as his first job supporting Indian Country. He worked in grant management and technical assistance and managed a geospatial Tribal energy management software system with BIA.