Conceptual editorial illustration of electricity infrastructure; not a photograph of the reported location or event.
The selected projects include electricity-access improvements, infrastructure planning and energy-resilience initiatives.
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected 63 tribe-led projects for award negotiations involving more than $125 million in potential support.
The October 22 announcement covers 61 tribal entities across 16 states. The selections include deployment, predevelopment and planning activities; they are not all construction-ready electricity projects.
DOE says the deployment group includes projects intended to connect approximately 150 tribal homes that currently lack electricity and upgrade electrical infrastructure. Other selections cover studies of transmission and distribution, resilience, resource opportunities and workforce development.
Why it matters for the grid
Electricity access depends on networks, construction, maintenance capability and trained personnel as well as generation. Planning and local operating arrangements are therefore important parts of delivering reliable long-term service.
What comes next
Selection for negotiations is not a final award or a commitment to provide funding. DOE states that negotiations can be canceled and selections rescinded before an award is issued.
The next milestones are negotiated awards, project implementation and the actual provision of service. The selected total should not be presented as completed infrastructure or money already disbursed.