Our Division of Energy and Mineral Development provides the opportunity for Tribes to receive financial assistance to evaluate the energy and mineral resource potential of their lands through its grants. We know that millions of acres of Tribal lands hold vast natural resources. We support development efforts led by Tribes in accordance with Tribal goals and priorities.
Resources Eligible for Funding
- Biomass — Woody and Waste
- Hydro
- Solar
- Wind
- Geothermal
- Oil
- Natural gas
- Coal bed methane
- Uranium
- Coal
- Industrial minerals (sand and gravel)
- Precious minerals (gold, silver, and platinum)
- Base minerals (lead, copper, and zinc)
- Ferrous metal minerals (iron, tungsten, and chromium)
Activities Eligible for Funding
- Resource Assessment
- Exploration Studies
- Feasibility Studies
- Market Studies
- Engineering Studies
- Economic Evaluation
- Defining Potential Targets for Development
Eligibility Information
All federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes, bands, villages, nations, or communities are eligible for EMDP grant funding. In addition, any Tribal Energy Development Organization (TEDO) is eligible for an EMDP grant. A TEDO is an enterprise, partnership, consortium, corporation, or business organization that is completely owned by individuals of AI/AN descent and engages in the development of energy resources.
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News
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Indian Affairs awards $3.9 million to promote economic d…
Press ReleaseThe Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development announced grants under two programs that support economic…
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BIA Announces Over $6.5 Million in Energy and Mineral De…
Press ReleaseWASHINGTON – The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) announced today that it has awarded more than 6.5 million in Energy…
Success Stories
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Flathead Reservation in Montana
Our funding helped the Tribe finalize the acquisition of a hydroelectric project, which now generates an estimated $40 million in revenue per year, supplies energy to over 100,000 homes and provides well paying, highly skilled jobs for tribal members.
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Blue Lake Rancheria in California
With our funding, the Tribe completed engineering and planning studies that found that a solar-battery-diesel micro-grid system configuration was the most economically viable solution for its needs. The Tribe used results of our grant to obtain funding for a project from the California Energy Commission. That project generates approximately $200,000 per year in cost savings, and the Rancheria is now a designated Red Cross shelter-in place community with a micro-grid that provides emergency power for critical facilities.
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Fond du Lac Band Reservation in Minnesota
With our funding from two separate grants, the band completed engineering and planning for a solar array and identified economic opportunities for a woody biomass district heating facility. The band then used results of the studies to secure funding from Minnesota Power and the State of Minnesota. The solar project now generates an estimated $80,000 per year in cost savings, and the biomass project saves $21,000 per year by displacing 88% of propane use at their community center.
Additional Information
Related Services
- Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) Grant
- Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Grant
- National Tribal Broadband Grant (NTBG)
- Living Languages Grant Program (LLGP)
Additional Resources
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Lakewood, CO 80401
