This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

December 12, 2012

Energy Department Issues Tribal Renewable Energy Guidance

The Energy Department on December 5 announced two new initiatives aimed at driving increased renewable energy production and sustainable economic development in Indian Country. As part of the Energy Department's efforts to support tribal renewable energy production, the Department issued a policy statement and guidance that gives preference to Indian tribes when its facilities contract to purchase renewable energy products or by-products based on authorities under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Energy Department also announced new training and education resources to help Tribal Nations advance local renewable energy project financing and development.

The Department's Office of Indian Energy Policy and the Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently issued an updated estimate of the renewable energy potential on Indian lands. While American Indian land comprises about 2% of all U.S. land, this analysis found that Indian lands contain 5% of total U.S. renewable energy resource potential, including high generation potential for solar, wind, and hydropower, among other renewable resources. See the Energy Department press release.