Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, Inc. – 2016 Project

NOTE: Project pages are being updated regularly to reflect changes, if any; however, some of the information may be dated.

Summary

The Midwest Tribal Energy Resource Association Inc. (MTERA) proposes to establish a Midwest Inter-Tribal Technical Assistance Network for Energy Sovereignty to empower tribal governments in the Midwest (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) to implement energy strategies that promote a clean, responsible, sustainable, and sovereign energy future.

MTERA is committed to “bring energy opportunity to Midwest Tribes that advances energy policy and development by leveraging resources, sharing information, gaining experience, identifying opportunities, and benefiting from real world projects.”

MTERA was conceived in early 2014. Six tribes were present at this initial planning meeting to discuss tribal energy needs and assess any interest in an organizational presence to help address those needs. From this meeting and meetings that followed, a vision, mission, and objectives were drafted. MTERA aims to empower tribal governments to implement energy strategies that promote a clean, responsible, sustainable, and sovereign energy future. For the past two years, five tribes have attended the regular monthly meetings. However, the organization has been unable to attract a stronger interest because it does not have a strong presence and does not provide specific services.

It is the intention of MTERA to provide greater access to tools to promote greater regional success. This project is intended to build the group’s technical capacity and streamline efforts of the group to provide assistance to member tribes. As projects are developed and performed, the education and knowledge base of the group will expand, thereby creating internal efficiencies that will reduce costs associated with technical assistance and continue to provide funds for new opportunities of growth.

MTERA has identified several goals for the project and the basis of the need for the grant funding. MTERA seeks to: 1) build the organization through increased memberships and partnerships, 2) provide technical assistance to member tribes, 3) recommend strategies to optimize energy production and decrease energy use for its member tribes, and 4) liaison with federal and state agencies in the creation of energy policy that ensures tribal and regional energy success.

MTERA’s immediate goal is to build the organization’s capacity, services, and viability through continued growth. This goal is essential to continued viability of the organization. An increase in tribal members ensures that efforts to maximize development of sustainable energy in Indian Country are expanded and promoted effectively. MTERA’s project goals will not only provide a broader base for the dissemination of information but will also foster communication, coordination, and collaboration among member tribes and, more importantly, across the regional inter-tribal organizations to ensure the efficient and effective sharing of information and technical knowledge across multiple groups.

A primary focus of MTERA will be to assist member tribes with strategies that will optimize energy production and decrease consumption. Several Midwest tribes have begun to develop renewable energy portfolios and have undertaken energy audits at their facilities. MTERA intends to support the ongoing efforts of these tribes as well as create opportunities for other tribes. An essential step in this process is the creation of baseline data for all member tribes so that sustainability efforts can be tracked.

Technical assistance to tribes is an essential component of MTERA’s overall success. This project is intended to build the group’s technical capacity and streamline the group’s efforts to provide assistance to member tribes. As projects are developed and implemented, the education and knowledge base of the group will expand, thereby creating internal efficiencies that will reduce costs associated with technical assistance and continue to provide funds for new growth opportunities.

With this project, MTERA will focus on organizational development, energy baseline, energy resource assessments, feasibility assessments, and communication and coordination with other governmental authorities.

This project will serve MTERA member tribes whose reservations are located in the Midwest states of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Current MTERA member tribes include the Oneida Nation, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Lac du Flambeau Tribe, Ho-Chunk Nation, and Fond du Lac Tribe.

The project is complete. View the final report and status reports below for more information.

The project was competitively selected under the U,S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy’s Fiscal Year 2016 funding opportunity announcement “Establishment of an Inter-tribal Technical Assistance Energy Providers Network” (DE-FOA-0001453) and started in September 2016.