We use a competitive review system with well-defined criteria to select the most qualified projects for funding. Awards are based on the individual merit of the proposal, but we also aim to provide funding to a diverse range of Tribes living in various areas.

We consistently receive more proposals than can be funded by our annual budget, which is determined by Congress and varies on a year-to-year basis.

Funded in 2022

FY 2022, we gave over $10.2 million to Tribes for energy and mineral projects.
ReservationStateAmountPurpose
Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux TribesMontana$1,000,000  
Fort Independence Indian CommunityCalifornia$485,757  
Nambe PuebloNew Mexico$159,000  
Bay Mills Indian Community (2)Michigan$149,170 
Iipay Nation of Santa YsabeCalifornia$125,000 
Eklutna, IncAlaska$315,155 
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (2)North Dakota$200,000 
Fort Independence Community of the Paiute IndiansCalifornia$175,000  
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California and NevadaArizona$169,000 
Mentasta Traditional CouncilAlaska$110,000  
Wind River Inter-Tribal Council (4)Wyoming$1,125,000 
Morongo Band of Mission Indians (1)California$46,625 
Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (2)Alaska$1,024,562 
Modoc Nation (1)Oklahoma$91,000 
Coushatta Tribe of LouisianaLouisiana$145,000  
Reno-Sparks Indian ColonyNevada$175,000 
Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (1)Alaska$320,950 
Nunakauiak Yupik CorporationAlaska$1,286,000 
The Kuskokwim CorporationAlaska$323,000 
Crow Creek Sioux TribeSouth Dakota$172,000 
Colorado River Indian TribesArizona$177,000 
Bristol Bay Native Corporation (1)Alaska$273,068 
Bay Mills Indian Community (1)Michigan$174,755 
Spirit Lake TribeNorth Dakota$140,000 
Osage Nation (4) - Scope of Work under review prior to awardOklahoma$100,000 
Wind River Inter-Tribal Council (5)Wyoming$350,000 
White Earth Band of Chippewa IndiansMinnesota$120,000 
Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians (2)Oklahoma$120,000 
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (1)Michigan$189,000 
Hoopa Valley Public Utilities DistrictCalifornia$315,980 
Ute Indian TribeUtah$506,000 
Sicangu Wicoti Awayankape CorpSouth Dakota$148,200 

Prior Funded Years

FY 2019, we gave over $5.3 million to Tribes for energy and mineral projects.
ReservationStateAmountPurpose
Chemehuevi California $295,868 Analyze and follow up on findings from the previous assessment project to determine potential deposits of minerals
Coushatta Louisiana $141,226 Study existing energy resources and associated projects available, specifically natural gas technologies and processes
Fond du Lac Minnesota $98,000 Design, evaluate and develop specifications for a microgrid
Fort Apache Arizona $45,155 Identify and develop sources for sand and gravel to meet future needs
Fort Peck Montana $1,158,000 Identify profitable low-risk and high-reward opportunities for oil and gas drilling 
Hoopa Valley California $152,575 Complete an investment-grade feasibility analysis for a biomass/biogas, 15-megawatt power plant
Laguna Pueblo New Mexico $100,000 Complete an assessment/preliminary engineering report to determine the current capability for solar photovoltaic power for various Tribal-owned sites
Lake Traverse South Dakota $65,940 Determine the potential for the profitable sale of tribal resources 
Mescalero New Mexico $295,557 Delineate, map, sample and test multiple aggregate resource sites
Nambe Pueblo New Mexico $81,625 Explore a solar energy project potentially reducing dependence upon costly, fossil-fuel-reliant grid connectivity
Northern Cheyenne Montana $198,135 Evaluate the potential for a distributed network of residential and community solar rooftop installations and conduct a feasibility analysis for the development of wind generation 
Osage Oklahoma $193,620 Estimate the amount of recoverable oil using enhanced oil recovery 
Pine Ridge South Dakota $145,750 Explore additional aggregate resources
Pueblo of Santo Domingo New Mexico $219,608 Qualify and quantify non-swelling clay deposits with a comprehensive field mapping and sampling program, and determine the feasibility and profitability of the sale of mineral resources
Pueblo of Zia New Mexico $370,952 Expand the testing and validation of soils and provide data to evaluate the quality and quantity of existing mineral deposits 
Rocky Boy's Montana $121,635 Analyze aggregate deposits with a comprehensive field mapping and sampling program 
Sac and Fox, Oklahoma Oklahoma $89,000 Explore a comprehensive Tribal microgrid solution that would help during critical outages in addition to reducing overall electric costs 
Southern Ute Colorado $140,000 Study the financial feasibility and identify options for using solar resources for renewable energy
Stewarts Point Rancheria California $50,500 Assess potential biomass energy resources market opportunities for biomass, and the potential to use biomass as fuel for a new power plant
Tunica -Biloxi Louisiana $306,460 Evaluate solid and fluid minerals with feasibility, economic and seismic studies
Umatilla Oregon $294,000 Prepare geothermal drilling operations on select land parcels that will host temperature gradient holes 
Wichita Oklahoma $69,000 Develop a comprehensive Tribal solar development plan 
Wind River Wyoming $750,000 Conduct a technical evaluation to scope, screen and identify challenges and opportunities in mature oil fields

Additional Information

Contact Us

Division of Energy and Mineral Development
13922 Denver West Parkway, Suite 200
Lakewood, CO 80401
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MST, Monday–Friday