Notice of Funding Opportunity Informational Webinar: Unleashing Tribal Energy Development

JOHANNA ZETTERBERG: Good afternoon, everyone. We’re going to go ahead and get started.

Welcome to today’s informational webinar for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Notice of Funding Opportunity, or NOFO, titled Unleashing Tribal Energy Development. The NOFO was issued by the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs.

My name is Johanna Zetterberg, and I am the deployment program manager for the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy. Thank you for joining us today. This webinar is for potential applicants to this NOFO.

We are truly excited to have you all here today. This NOFO represents a significant opportunity for Tribes. And we in the Office of Indian Energy are deeply committed to supporting your energy goals as sovereign Nations and your self-determination as it relates to energy.

This webinar is designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of this NOFO, and we hope you consider applying. As we get started today, a link in the NOFO is in this webinar’s chat for your reference. All webinar participant audio is disabled for this session. This webinar is being recorded and will be available on the Office of Indian Energy website soon. All registered participants will be notified via email when the recording is posted. Next slide, please.

Before we begin, I want to go over a few important things. This webinar contains no new information that isn’t already available in the NOFO. This presentation summarizes the NOFOs contents. While we’ve done our best to capture the key points, the NOFO document itself is the controlling document and contains more information than we have time to go over today. Please always refer to the official NOFO language for complete and accurate information. Your participation in today’s webinar is entirely voluntary, and there are no advantages or disadvantages in the application process with respect to joining today’s webinar. Next slide.

To ensure fairness and transparency in the competitive process of a NOFO, there are strict communication guidelines for DOE personnel once a NOFO is issued. DOE personnel, including employees of the Office of Indian Energy, are prohibited from communicating in any way regarding the NOFO except through the established question-and-answer process. All questions regarding this NOFO must be submitted in writing to tribalgrants@hg.doe.gov. 

Please ensure your questions are sent no later than three business days before the application due date and time. We cannot provide feedback on individual concepts through this Q&A process. This helps maintain a fair competition for all applicants. Thank you for your attention to this important information. Now, I am pleased to introduce the director of the DOE Office of Indian Energy, Eric Mahroum, to highlight the important role Tribes have in unleashing American energy and to share why he’s excited about this funding opportunity. 

ERIC MAHROUM: Thanks for the introduction, Johanna. And thank you to all my friends online, everybody that has joined. I’m excited. Thank you for taking the time to be on here and to learn about this NOFO. I’m very excited about this. And for those who came to the RES conference to see my announcement, thank you again for coming to see the fireside chat. It was exciting.

I want to start by thanking you and your team for the great work you did in developing this funding opportunity. Johanna, thank you so much. It’s new. It’s different. And I’m excited to see what projects Tribes bring forward. Like Johanna said, the Office of Indian Energy is making $50 million available to unleash Tribal energy development and bring affordable, reliable, and secure energy to all Tribes. This funding opportunity has some unique qualities that I’m particularly proud of. Next slide, please.

In addition to being the first DOE funding opportunity exclusively for Tribes under Trump 47, this is the first time this office is making funding available for an expansive set of technologies and approaches. This includes projects focused on residential electricity access, critical mineral resource assessment, planning, new power generation for AI data centers, workforce development, and much more. 

My team will go through the eligible topic areas in more detail today. But bottom line is, if you have an idea that fits, we want to hear about it. We understand that each Tribe is different, with unique needs, challenges, and resources available. We aren’t telling you which solutions to use, like what has been done in the past. Only you know the best solution to overcome your Tribe’s energy challenge.

Through this opportunity, we’re expanding the use of Office of Indian Energy funds by welcoming projects at any phase of development to apply. For the first time in the office’s history, we’re including planning activities for large-scale projects. We listen to all the Tribes and the feedback. I know I did at RES and just in my day to day. We understand that planning takes time, resources, and expertise you might not have. 

Last, but certainly not least, we also heard you say that the application paperwork can be too consuming, and cost shares can be a barrier. I know you want to get on with your energy projects, and I want you to as well. That’s why for this opportunity, we have a 0—let me say it again: We have a 0 or 10% cost share available, depending on the type of project you have. We’ve also cut the application link down to reduce the time it takes to apply. 

You can see how excited I am about this funding opportunity, and I’m going to wrap things up and let you hear more from my team. I’ll end with this. We’re ready to partner with Tribes every step of the way. And we know you have invaluable contributions to make to this nation’s energy future. Under President Trump and Secretary Wright’s leadership, the Office of Indian Energy is building on 20 years of investments to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy. And we’re moving with a sense of urgency that is required to accelerate the speed of progress. 

I’m excited to see the next generation of Tribal energy projects and partnerships that we can create together through this funding opportunity. I hope you consider applying. And thank you again for being on here. Thank you for your time. And I’m going to pass it back to you, Johanna. Thank you.

JOHANNA ZETTERBERG: Hey, thanks so much, Eric. Now, before we learn more about the NOFO, I want to take a moment to share some background on our office. Next slide, please. The U.S. Department of Energy is a large agency with a broad mission. While programs in several offices at DOE have resources for Tribes, the Office of Indian Energy is the only DOE office whose programs exclusively support Tribes. 

Twenty years ago, in 2005, Congress authorized the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy. The vision for our office was established in law, and it charges us to promote Tribal energy development, efficiency, and use; reduce and stabilize energy costs; enhance and strengthen Tribal energy and economic infrastructure; and electrify Indian lands and homes. This drives our commitment to support Tribes as they pursue their energy visions. Next slide, please. 

This NOFO is strategically aligned with both Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s priorities and the broader executive orders issued by President Trump as well as the priorities of our own Indian Energy director, who you just met, Eric Mahroum. Secretary Wright signed a secretarial order in February of 2025 to take immediate action to unleash American energy in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders.

Of Secretary Wright’s nine priorities in this secretarial order, our funding opportunity most directly supports two: advancing energy addition and strengthening grid reliability and security. Director Mahroum’s priorities include enhancing affordability, fostering public-private partnerships, ensuring effective communications with Tribal Nations, and building a robust Tribal workforce in energy sectors.

This funding opportunity is designed to help implement these vital objectives and unleash American energy in Indian country. Next slide.

Now, I am pleased to introduce Dan Kaim, our NOFO manager, and Mike Vehar, a technical project officer on our financial assistance team. Dan and Mike have a combined nearly 20 years of experience working directly with Tribes. They will dive into more details of the NOFO. Dan and Mike, I’ll hand it over to you now.

DAN KAIM: Thanks, Johanna. Next slide, please. In the next portion of the presentation, Mike and I will be going over the specifics of the NOFO. Before diving into the details, I would like to reiterate that everything we are about to discuss is in the text of the NOFO.

This slide gives a high-level overview of the $50 million being made available under this NOFO. Indian Energy is soliciting applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy in Indian country. Something new in Indian Energy is that we anticipate awarding both grants and cooperative agreements under this funding opportunity.

The main difference in cooperative agreements is the level of federal involvement. This determination will be made after selections have been made, so it does not need to be considered while drafting your application. We will go more in depth into the topic areas in the coming slides, but I will note this is an expansive NOFO covering a wide range of energy projects. All applications are due July 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. I would recommend not waiting until the final day to submit your package. Next slide.

As you may be aware, the NOFO was announced on March 25 during RES by Director Mahroum. As this NOFO does differ from recent announcements, we have given a 120-day application window, with the deadline being July 24, 2026. The next two dates on the slide are estimates, but we anticipate announcing selections around November 20, 2026, and making final awards around February 3, 2027. Next slide.

In this next section, we are going to expand on the three topic areas and discuss who is eligible to apply for this funding. The overall goal of this NOFO is to fund projects that aim to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand electric and other energy access, and advance energy projects for Tribal economic development. To achieve this goal, we have three topic areas that cover different stages in the development of Tribal energy resources.

Topic area one is titled Tribal Community Energy Deployment Projects. These are deployment projects, so they entail the actual physical deployment of energy assets. Applications under this topic area are expected to be ready for implementation, which is to say all predevelopment work is already complete. Topic area two is titled Tribal Community Energy Planning, Assessment, and Feasibility. If your energy project is not ready to apply under topic area one or you need to do planning, assessment, and feasibility studies on community-scale energy projects, this is the topic area to apply under.

Projects funded under topic area two are meant to move community-energy-scale projects from concept to implementation ready. While topic areas one and two probably sound familiar to past Indian Energy funding opportunities, topic area three is completely new. The title is Large-Scale Planning, Assessment, and Feasibility for Tribal Energy Projects. The difference between topic area two and three is that topic area three is for large-scale projects. These are meant to study the economic and commercial development of Tribal energy resources. Next slide.

Here we have some more details about each topic area. The maximum award amounts for each topic area are 7.5, 1.5, and 2.5 million, respectively. Topic area one is the only one that requires cost share, and this funding opportunity differs from past opportunities in that there is no cost-share reduction request required. The project periods are expected to be anywhere from one to four years, but this depends on the scope of the work proposed in each application. Next slide.

On this slide, we list all of the entities that are eligible to apply for this NOFO. First on the list are Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native regional corporations and Village corporations. At the bottom of the slide, we referenced the Federal Register with the most up-to-date list of federally recognized Tribes.

Tribal and intertribal organizations are eligible as well. These are organizations under a Tribe or an organization comprising of two or more Tribes. They can include, but are not limited to, intertribal councils, regional Tribal organizations or associations, Alaska regional development organizations, and Tribal federations. Tribal Energy Development Organizations, or TEDOs, are eligible applicants as well.

Please reference the legal definition in the NOFO that I’m not going to try to repeat here. An applicant that fits that definition is eligible and does not need to be certified with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Next on the list are Tribal Colleges and Universities, or TCUs. There is a legal description available in the NOFO that needs to be met. Finally, not listed here are consortia. If there is a group of otherwise eligible applicants that decide to apply as a consortium, that is allowable as long as one of the members is the lead applicant. Next slide.

Here are more details about topic area one, Tribal Community Energy Deployment Projects. To reiterate from earlier, these projects entail the actual physical deployment of energy assets.

Applications under this topic area are expected to have completed all predevelopment studies and activities. These are community-scale energy projects and can be focused on a few different things: deploying energy generation, storage, or delivery assets; implementing energy efficiency measures or upgrades; installing equipment to strengthen energy infrastructure and implement resiliency enhancements; projects that will lower or stabilize energy costs; and expansion of electricity access through infrastructure upgrades or additions.

Something new in this NOFO is each topic areas have hypothetical example projects in the NOFO. I recommend reading these as they are helpful in understanding what types of projects could be eligible under each topic area. The example highlighted here speaks to a project where infrastructure upgrades are proposed to increase the reliability of electrical access to homes. Next slide.

Here’s a list of requirements that must be met in applications under topic area one. Projects must use commercially proven and warrantied technology. They must be based on a comprehensive feasibility study that clearly identifies the need and demonstrates the rationale for selecting the project. The reason for selecting the proposed project, as opposed to other options, that demonstrates the availability of the resource and that demonstrates the technical and economic viability, including interconnection analyses, if applicable, and financial sustainability of the proposed project.

Energy efficiency projects should be based on energy audits or industrial energy assessments, which demonstrate the feasibility of the project being proposed. Projects must be based on a completed design and engineering work, except for final design and engineering. If you are proposing an energy resiliency project—whether that be through backup, dispatchable generation or a battery energy storage system—the proposal must demonstrate the ability of the system to function autonomously. 

For all projects, applicants need to demonstrate how the project will benefit the applicant and/or Tribal members. There needs to be a good reason for the proposed energy project. If the project is going to be generating energy or implementing energy efficiency measures, an estimate of the amount of energy generated or saved needs to be included in the proposal. Next slide.

Next, we will look at topic area two, Tribal Community Energy Planning, Assessment, and Feasibility. If you are interested in the types of projects we just went over in topic area one but have not progressed far enough to meet all the requirements, you can consider applying to topic area two. Topic area two covers predevelopment community-scale energy planning activities. These activities are meant to move Tribal energy projects from the beginning stages to being implementation ready.

The types of activities that can be supported under this topic area include, but are not limited to, Tribal community energy planning, such as strategic energy planning, energy resiliency planning, conducting energy options analyses, conducting a comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment, and design and development of energy projects; conducting energy audits to establish baseload energy use and energy efficiency options; and Tribal energy capacity building, such as developing an energy organization or office, establishing Tribal energy policy, regulations, or codes to reduce energy use or promote energy development, and obtaining skills and training related to energy use, development, or management.

These projects are meant to meet applicants wherever they are in their energy development process. Projects can propose some or all of the necessary predevelopment activities to get projects through the planning phase and be ready for implementation. Next slide, please.

Topic area three, Large-Scale Planning, Assessment, and Feasibility for Tribal Energy Projects. As mentioned before, topic area three is completely new to Indian Energy and is focused on large-scale, as opposed to community-scale, energy projects. This topic area is similar to topic area two in that these projects are for planning, assessment, and feasibility activities, but differ in that the projects being studied are for economic and commercial development of those resources.

We have some examples of deliverables listed, and these include resource assessments, offtake agreements or power purchase agreements, owner’s engineering report, market analysis, and quantitative financial model and analysis. Of note, in the NOFO, you will see that critical minerals and materials as well as nuclear energy projects are allowable under this topic area. The goal of projects under topic area three is to de-risk the commercial development of Tribal energy projects.

Here is one of the illustrative examples provided in the NOFO: an energy-focused project strengthening American leadership in AI by supporting the development of data centers. The project could include prefeasibility studies for siting a data center, including considerations such as land, power availability, and water rights, or for developing power and/or transmission and distribution infrastructure to address increased power needs related to data centers. For a full list of all hypothetical examples, please reference the NOFO part one. Next slide, please.

Now that we have gone through the three different topic areas of projects that we are looking for, let’s talk about the types of projects that fall outside of this NOFO. We recommend ensuring your project does not meet any of the following, as it will be deemed noncompliant and will not go through merit review.

One, applications that fall outside of the topic areas we just covered. Two, applications proposing research and development. Three, applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles. Four, project concepts and approaches not based on established scientific principles.

To summarize number five, we’re not funding the construction of buildings. We are funding the energy assets in topic area one. Six, applications proposing the use of materials, supplies, or equipment which are not commercially proven and warrantied. Finally, applications proposing the evaluation of product marketing opportunities, assessment of manufacturing opportunities, research, product development, or the construction of manufacturing facilities or buildings.

Again, before submitting an application, please ensure it does not meet these criteria and that it will make it to merit review. I would now like to turn it over to my colleague, Mike Vehar, to share more details about this NOFO.

MIKE VEHAR: Thanks, Dan. Next, we’ll discuss the content and budget details of your applications.

Next slide, please. So, I’d like to start by answering the question of how many applications you can submit. The answer is that there’s no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted by an eligible applicant, whether individually or as part of a consortium.

The important thing is that each application must be unique and stand alone, meaning the proposed project in one application is not dependent on another application also being selected and funded. Each application must have a distinct title, unique control number as assigned by IE-Exchange during the registration process, and be readily distinguishable.

Applications must conform to the requirements by topic area and must not exceed the stated page limits. Each application must be limited to a single project. Unrelated projects cannot be consolidated into a single application. So, please refer to NOFO part one application content requirements for a complete list of application requirements, file formats, and file naming conventions. Next slide, please.

This table is a combination of two tables found in NOFO part one, page 32. It is split over the next two slides and provides details on every potential document within an application. Please go to the NOFO posting on IE-Exchange for provided templates and forms to fill out as part of your application. The detailed descriptions for all application documents can be found starting on page 34 of the NOFO part one.

Starting with the application for federal assistance, or the SF-424, which is a required application form requesting financial assistance. The technical volume is where you will detail your proposed project.

There are two templates provided on IE-Exchange based on which topic area you are applying under. The technical volume is a requirement for all applications. The work plan is also a requirement, and a template is provided as well. This document details how the proposed project will be implemented.

We’ll go into more detail on the biosketch on a later slide. The next application component is only required if applying under topic area one for a deployment project. There are a few more like this, so be sure to check what components are required under the topic area your project falls under. The site and resources maps and graphics file, the design and engineering file, and the economics file are documents to supplement the technical volume.

As the technical volume has page limits, this is where more detail should be submitted on each of these areas. The budget justification is required for all projects. And a template Excel workbook is provided on IE-Exchange. A subrecipient budget justification workbook is required if you are applying with a subrecipient. And, finally, the eligibility statements and evidence file is required for all applications. And a template for this is provided on IE-Exchange as well. Next slide, please. 

Continuing on, the applicant Tribal council resolution or declaration of commitment and cost sharing file is required for all applications. For topic area one, the studies and analysis file is required to supplement the technical volume. The rest of the application documents on the table are listed as “if applicable.” Make sure to carefully read the description of these documents, and submit them along with your application if applicable to your project. If the document is not applicable, you will not need it to be able to submit your application on IE-Exchange. Next slide, please. 

So, now we’ll talk about cost share. Cost share varies by topic area based on the following chart.

Topic area one requires a minimum of 10% cost share, while topic areas two and three do not require any cost share. It’s important to note this NOFO differs from recent Indian Energy NOFOs and that there’s no cost-share reduction application required. The cost-share percentage is calculated by dividing the amount of cost share by the total allowable project costs. Please see the NOFO part two for further explanation and examples. Next slide, please. 

We have a dedicated slide for the biosketch requirement because it’s new, and we want to avoid any confusion. The biosketch is replacing the resume requirement for all DOE applications. The screenshot of the website linked in the NOFO will bring you to the National Institute of Health’s website, shown here. This is the website you will need to log into in order to create your biosketch.

Further, to help you in creating the biosketches, we’ve provided step-by-step instructions in the IE-Exchange under the application forms and templates. Next slide, please.

In the following slides, we’re going to discuss how applications will be evaluated and other selection factors. The technical review criteria can be found on page 47 of the NOFO part one and consists of four components. The viability, impacts, and outcomes is the most heavily weighted component, accounting for 50% of a project’s score.

The needs, goals, and objectives contribute 20%. Roles, responsibilities, capabilities, and commitment contribute another 20%. And, finally, the work plan covers the remaining 10%. We will now go through each of these criteria in more detail. Next slide, please.

So, let’s look at the first technical review criterion: needs, goals, and objectives—accounting for 20% of a project’s score. This criterion evaluates two primary factors. First, the extent to which your project directly addresses the identified energy needs of the applicant, how it aligns with the applicant’s stated energy goals, and enhances the applicant’s capacity for self-determination and control over its energy resources.

Second, the strength of your justification for why DOE funding is essential for the project’s success and achievement of its intended outcomes. This includes a clear articulation of the ramifications if the project is not funded. This criterion will primarily be addressed in the technical volume portion of your application. Next slide, please.

Next, we have viability impacts and outcomes, the most significant criterion, at 50% of the project score. This criterion considers four key aspects. First, the extent to which the project contributes to increasing affordable, reliable, and secure energy. Second, the technical viability of the potential project, the comprehensive identification and discussion of barriers and risks—whether technical, financial, logistical, regulatory, or other—and the soundness of the proposed mitigation strategies and contingency plans to ensure project success.

Third, the strength and comprehensiveness of the discussion, both quantitative and qualitative, regarding the project’s anticipated results. And, finally, the ability of the proposed project to effectively deliver significant benefits to the applicant. While this criterion will be addressed and summarized in the technical volume, it needs to be supported by the other application documents as applicable to your project. Next slide, please.

The third technical review criterion is roles, responsibilities, capabilities, and commitment, also weighted at 20%. The criterion focuses on two factors. First, the capabilities of the applicant team, including appropriate expertise and experience assigned to each role, as evidenced by biosketches.

This also covers the reasonableness of any plan to obtain qualified vendors or contractors.

Second, the demonstrated level of commitment from the applicant and each participating organization, as evidenced by letters of commitment. This criterion will be addressed in the technical volume as well as in the biosketch requirement. Ensure biosketches are provided for all covered individuals, which include key personnel for the execution of your proposed project. Next slide, please.

Lastly, we have the work plan, which accounts for 10% of the technical review. This criterion involves four primary considerations. First, the extent to which project tasks are clearly defined, complete, and presented through a logistical task structure, with interdependencies between tasks and phases clearly articulated. Second, the extent to which the proposed timeline for project completion is realistic given the scope, resources, and potential complexities.

Third, the identification of specific milestones at appropriate intervals, clear indication of key dates, and association of tasks with easily understandable deliverables. And, finally, the extent to which the necessary human, financial, and material resources are identified and allocated effectively to support the proposed work plan. The work plan is its own application requirement and will be the primary method for addressing this criterion. Next slide, please.

So, in addition to the technical review criteria, the selection official may consider several program policy factors when determining the applications to select for award negotiations. These factors include the degree to which the proposed project supports the supply of firm, reliable power; whether the proposed project or group of projects represents a desired geographic distribution; the degree to which the proposed project or group of projects represents a desired technology diversity; how the proposed project optimizes the use of available DOE funding to achieve programmatic objectives; the degree to which the proposed project serves Tribal communities with high energy costs; the degree to which the proposed project serves Tribal communities with inadequate electrical service; consideration for applicants who have not previously received financial assistance from the DOE Office of Indian Energy; and, finally, the degree to which the applicant contributes to a broad range of recipients likely to produce immediate, demonstrable results and recipients with the potential for longer-term breakthrough results consistent with the NOFO’s objectives. These factors help ensure that selected projects align with the broader strategic goals of the program. And now I’ll turn it back to Dan.

DAN KAIM: Thanks, Mike. Next slide. This is our last section, where we will cover some additional information and recap the presentation. Next slide. As you’ve probably noticed, this NOFO is in two parts. NOFO part one is where you’ll find specific programmatic goals, evaluation criteria, and eligibility requirements unique to this funding opportunity. This part details what makes Unleashing Tribal Energy Development distinct.

NOFO part two contains fixed DOE requirements that are generally consistent across all NOFOs. There is required information about this NOFO in both parts, so make sure to read both documents.

Aside from having an active IE-Exchange account, you will need an active sam.gov account. As sam.gov registrations can take several weeks, make sure to register as soon as possible. Next slide. 

Moving on to our standards for application evaluation, it’s essential that all applications meet specific compliance criteria to be considered. First, your application must comply with all applicable content and form requirements as detailed in the application content requirements and submission requirements and deadline section of both NOFO part one and part two.

Second, please ensure you include all required documents. Missing documents can lead to your application being deemed noncompliant. Remember, document requirements vary by topic area.

Third, applications must be uploaded successfully to the IE-Exchange site, which is linked here. When you’ve uploaded all components, remember to click the Submit button to finalize your submission. 

And, finally, all applications must comply with the submission deadline of July 24, 2026, 5 p.m. Eastern Time. This is a firm deadline. Applications that meet these eligibility criteria will then be evaluated in accordance with this NOFO and the reference DOE merit review guide. Next slide. 

Aside from this funding opportunity, Indian Energy also supplies free technical assistance, or TA, designed to help evaluate and advance projects during their early stages. Some activities eligible under this NOFO can even be completed through this technical assistance. Eligible applicants under this NOFO can choose to apply for TA or funding under this NOFO; however, it is important to note that IE—sorry, Indian Energy cannot advise or facilitate a NOFO application.

We have provided guidance on when you should consider applying for TA first applying for a project under this NOFO. You should consider applying for technical assistance if you are looking for our review and input on strategic energy planning or seeking guidance on energy efficiency assessments, resource assessments, energy governance support, energy project planning, or establishing a sustainable competitive business environment.

You should consider applying for a project under this NOFO if you are seeking to use in-house expertise for planning activities or developing a project proposal to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand energy access, and/or advance development of energy projects for Tribal economic employment—or sorry, development. For more information or to request technical assistance, please visit the linked website. Next slide.

Here we have a reminder of the high-level details of this NOFO. Again, the Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy in Indian country. We are anticipating awarding grants and cooperative agreements up to $50 million. Projects are expected to last between one and four years in the listed topic areas, and the application deadline is July 24 at 5 p.m. Eastern. To view the actual NOFO, please go to the IE-Exchange through the provided link. Next slide.

As a reminder, there is only one official avenue to ask questions about this NOFO, and that is tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov. All questions and answers will be posted on the IE-Exchange for the benefit of all applicants. This method ensures no one attains an unfair advantage during this competitive award process. The following are examples currently posted on the IE-Exchange that are of interest regarding this NOFO.

Question 20 is, “Are there any specific technologies or energy systems that would not be eligible for funding under this NOFO?” And the answer is no. There are no specific ineligible technologies or energy systems under NOFO 3548, Unleashing Tribal Energy Development. Please note that to be eligible under topic area one, applications must use commercially proven and warranted technology.

And see Section E on page 25 of NOFO part one, regarding applications specifically not of interest. 

For all topic areas, the NOFO contains hypothetical examples of projects that could be considered for funding. These examples are not exhaustive and are provided for illustrative purposes. The projects funded under the NOFO are intended to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand energy access, and advance development of energy projects for Tribal economic development. This NOFO supports Indian country to unleash its own energy resources, to meet its own needs, and to share in the prosperity of American energy dominance.

Question number nine is, “My Tribe is interested in exploring nuclear power and/or critical minerals. Are these technologies only allowable under topic area three?” And the answer is yes. Regarding nuclear power and critical minerals, these technologies are allowable under topic area three. They are not eligible under the community-scale requirement for topic areas one and two. Please go to the frequently asked questions page on IE-Exchange for a listing of all questions associated with this NOFO. Thank you. And I will now pass it back to Johanna to finish our presentation. Next slide. 

JOHANNA ZETTERBERG: Thank you, Dan, and thank you, Mike. As we wrap up today, we invite you to stay connected with us after this presentation. You can contact our office by phone, email, or by visiting our website. If you are not already signed up for our newsletter, please sign up today. You can also follow us on social media. The Office of Indian Energy is on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. Next slide, please.

Thank you again to all of our presenters today and for all of you for joining us for this webinar. I hope you have a wonderful day. We’re going to end the webinar now. Goodbye.