The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy policy team advocates to ensure Tribal Nations are not just stakeholders, but sovereign decision-makers in the clean energy transition. For too long, Tribes have been subject to extractive and exploitative control by fossil fuel industries, outside utilities, and non-Tribal agencies. The self-determined development of clean energy infrastructure offers a pathway to break free from this legacy and secure lasting sovereignty. As our founder, Chéri Smith, often asks: “How can a Tribal Nation be truly sovereign if it is not in control of its own energy resources?”
ATCE CWA Sec. 401 Comments February 2026
ATCE CAISO Or. 1920 Compliance Comments January 2026
ATCE Speed to Power RFI Comments November 2025
ATCE FERC Large Loads ANOPR Commnets November 2025
ATCE CPUC Tribal Consultation and Tribal Land Transfer Policy Comments October 2025
ATCE USACE NEPA Comments August 2025
ATCE DOE NEPA Comments August 2025
ATCE FAA NEPA Comments August 2025
ATCE DOI NEPA Comments August 2025
ATCE DOD Army NEPA Comments August 2025
ATCE DOD Navy NEPA Comments August 2025
Why this matters: DOE’s draft report could be used to weaken or rescind the Clean Air Act’s Endangerment Finding, threatening the foundation of federal climate protections and disproportionately harming Tribal Nations.
How the Alliance Responded: Circulated a Tribal Toolkit, hosted office hours, and submitted formal comments (Sept. 2, 2025).
What you can do: Prepare to call out future agency actions that use this report as justification for removing environmental protections.
Why this matters: Administrator Zeldin issued a notice that the EPA was rescinding all grant funding issued under the GGRF’s Solar for All program, removing over five hundred million dollars from Indian Country.
How the Alliance Responded: Developed a Congressional Advocacy Toolkit, sent letters to 125+ members of Congress and state leaders, and organized coalition outreach.
What you can do: Call your representatives to oppose clawbacks. Share advocacy materials within your networks.
Why this matters: DOI released guidance for the permitting of solar and wind projects, requiring secretarial level approval for any action which the department oversees. This requirement violates Tribal sovereignty and right to self-governance.
How the Alliance Responded: Wrote to Secretary Burgum and 300+ congressional staff, requesting clarification that this guidance does not apply to projects on Tribal Lands. Created an Opposition Toolkit to mobilize partners.
What you can do: Share the Toolkit, contact your members of Congress, and press DOI for revisions.
Why this matters: This order directs transmission providers to incorporate Tribal laws, regulations, and codes into planning scenarios for future transmission projects. However, efforts to proactively engage with Tribes have reportedly been lacking.
What the Alliance is doing: Preparing one-pagers, outreach strategies, and Tribal education sessions.
What you can do: Reach out to the Alliance to better understand which Tribal laws, regulations, or codes are relevant to this planning process. Contact your regional transmission provider and state energy officials to ensure that they are considered in the scenario planning..
Why this matters: This order implements “commercial readiness” deposits of several million dollars and withdrawal penalties for projects that apply to the grid interconnection queue.
What the Alliance is doing: Petitioning FERC to amend the rulemaking, allowing Tribally-owned projects to show alternative indicia of commercial readiness and be exempt from the upfront fees, as well as the withdrawal penalties.
What you can do: Be prepared to advocate for this petition if FERC’s Chairman initiates a vote on it.
Why this matters: Eliminated clean energy tax credits and introduced harmful FEOC provisions, directly limiting Tribal development.
How the Alliance responded: Submitted opposition comments, testified, joined coalition letters, and reached 112+ congressional offices.
What you can do: Utilize the Alliance’s educational resources and network to adjust to the new landscape of clean energy development.
Why this matters: Ensures Tribes and Tribal entities can access tax benefits equally.
What the Alliance is doing: Reviewed Treasury’s regulations and supported adoption.
What you can do: Explore applicability to your Tribal projects. Contact us for resources.
Why this matters: Would codify Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all energy projects on Tribal lands.
What the Alliance is doing: Reviewed the draft bill, provided feedback, and signaled support.
What you can do: Call for your state legislators to enshrine FPIC requirements for projects on or near Tribal Lands.
Why this matters: SCIA leads Tribal legislation and oversight.
What the Alliance is doing: Meeting regularly with staff, introducing our Alaska program, and raising concerns about various issues impacting Indian Country.
What you can do: Contact SCIA members and share how delays affect your community.
Why this matters: AI-driven infrastructure planning could ignore sovereignty, zoning, or treaty obligations.
What the Alliance is doing: Submitted comments urging Tribal consultation and safeguards.
What you can do: Stay engaged with us as DOE moves forward on AI and energy issues. Help identify Tribal priorities, monitor federal actions, and be ready to elevate concerns when new opportunities for Consultation or comment arise.
Why this matters: Directs major funding streams that can support or exclude Tribal communities.
What the Alliance is doing: Met with leadership to advocate for Tribal access and inclusion.
What you can do: Track DOE SCEP funding and request support from the Alliance.
Why this matters: Administers Tribal energy programs. Engagement ensures barriers are addressed.
What the Alliance is doing: Regular meetings to share ground-level challenges and opportunities.
What you can do: Join DOE Consultations and connect with us for application support.
Why this matters: Federal Consultations often happen without adequate Tribal preparation.
What the Alliance is doing: Launched a national campaign with toolkits, office hours, and policy briefings.
What you can do: Use our toolkit and join future office hours to prepare.
Why this matters: Procurement rules could make Tribal projects cost-prohibitive.
What the Alliance is doing: Submitted advocacy letters urging flexibility for Tribes.
What you can do: Share your project data with us to strengthen advocacy.
Why this matters: NREL research informs policy and industry. Tribal inclusion ensures relevance and sovereignty.
What the Alliance is doing: Reviewed white papers, provided feedback, and partnered on the SPIRIT (EV study) project.
What you can do: Review NREL reports and engage in SPIRIT planning.
Why this matters: NREL research informs policy and industry. Tribal inclusion ensures relevance and sovereignty.
What the Alliance is doing: This project is a collaborative Tribal-State study with NREL that helps states build a deeper understanding of Tribes and strengthen government-to-government relationships for more effective, respectful, and equitable collaboration.
What you can do: Tribes and community members can follow the study’s progress and reach out to us directly with any questions, input, or interest in engaging to ensure their voices guide this work.
Why this matters: Oversees U.S. energy, lands, and environment policies.
What the Alliance is doing: Supported outreach, advised on messaging, and connected Tribal priorities to committee discussions.
What you can do: Contact committee members and urge support for Tribal clean energy.
Why this matters: The Committee has direct oversight of Tribal energy priorities, making their partnership critical to advancing our work.
What the Alliance is doing: Met with staff to highlight impacts of H.R. 1 on Tribal programs.
What you can do: Stay engaged with us as we continue building these relationships. Share your priorities, questions, and stories so we can bring strong Tribal voices forward in future conversations.
Why this matters: Weakens environmental reviews, threatening sacred and cultural sites.
What the Alliance is doing: Submitted eight comment letters across federal agencies (DOI, FAA, USDA, USACE, DoD – Army, DoD – Navy, and DOE) urging protections.
What you can do: Submit comments on NEPA reviews affecting your community. Implement Tribal laws on Environmental Justice and cultural resource protection.
Why this matters: State policy defines energy access and transition in rural and Tribal Alaska.
What the Alliance is doing: Supported SB 152 (SAVE Act), submitted comments on HB 153 (RPS), and engaged with Sen. Murkowski’s office on frozen grants.
What you can do: Track state hearings and elevate Tribal priorities in the legislative process.
Why this matters: State energy resilience policies directly impact Tribal sovereignty.
What the Alliance is doing: Partnered with the Governor’s Office of Resilience to support Tribal priorities and provide policy reform.
What you can do: Engage with state resilience planning to ensure Tribal inclusion.
Why this matters: California’s clean energy transition has outsized influence nationally.
What the Alliance is doing: Met with CARB, CPUC, and CEC; testified on AB 527 & 531 (geothermal); advocated against Solar For All clawbacks; commented on West of Devers transmission case study.
What you can do: Use Alliance toolkits to engage with state agencies on consultations.
Why this matters: Transmission authorities decide project siting and investment.
What the Alliance is doing: Submitted comments to CETA urging inclusion of Tribal sovereignty and equity metrics.
What you can do: Share Tribal perspectives on transmission planning with state regulators.
Why this matters: Native Hawaiian energy initiatives must center sovereignty and community benefits.
What the Alliance is doing: Providing services to Native Hawaiian groups attempting to achieve energy sovereignty through clean energy.
What you can do: Support local initiatives advancing Native Hawaiian energy equity.
Why this matters: Utility regulation impacts Tribal energy access and fairness.
What the Alliance is doing: Filed comments supporting the Upper Sioux Community complaint against Minnesota Valley Cooperative.
What you can do: Follow PUC dockets and submit comments supporting Tribal rights.
Why this matters: State clean energy programs and financing access can expand or limit Tribal projects.
What the Alliance is doing: Advocated for SB 132 & AB 458; provided comments on NAC 534A geothermal rules.
What you can do: Join state advocacy coalitions to elevate Tribal voices.
Why this matters: Tribal resilience depends on infrastructure planning and investment.
What the Alliance is doing: Partnered with University of Oklahoma IPPRA to support resilience and infrastructure projects.
What you can do: Engage with state institutions to influence Tribal resilience planning.
Why this matters: Market reforms and utility policies affect Treaty rights and energy sovereignty.
What the Alliance is doing: Supported ATNI opposition to Bonneville/Markets+; commented on HB 2253 (community solar).
What you can do: Urge legislators and agencies to prioritize Treaty protections in energy planning.
Why this matters: Washington’s current low-income solar program needs key improvements to better serve communities. This proposal focuses on fixing barriers, expanding eligibility and ensuring Tribes and community partners can fully participate.
What the Alliance is doing: Worked with partners to revise this legislation, shifting away from a broader community solar push and instead strengthening WSU’s existing program with changes like lifting sitting restrictions for Tribes, adding fair labor standards, and expanding project sizes.
What you can do: Share your input on program gaps and community needs so we can ensure the fixes make the program more equitable and effective, to ensure it is accessible to Tribal Nations.
Why this matters: Tribal law determines how projects are structured and how benefits flow to communities.
What the Alliance is doing: Reviewed draft legislation, provided technical feedback, and recommended protections for sovereignty.
What you can do: Share draft codes or policies with the Alliance for review.
Why this matters: Collective advocacy strengthens Tribal influence in national energy policy.
What the Alliance is doing: As co-convenors, we help bring Tribes together by engaging in weekly planning for a two-day Fly in meeting to set shared national priorities.
What you can do: Join NITEC meetings or sign onto joint advocacy initiatives to help shape and advance Tribal energy priorities.
Why this matters: Regional power authorities can protect or erode sovereignty.
What the Alliance is doing: Partnered with OSPA on tax credit analysis, NREL transmission white paper, and regulatory engagement.
What you can do: Participate in regional coalitions advancing Tribal authority in transmission and power markets.
The Alliance’s Policy Team is committed to ensuring Tribal Nations have a powerful voice in shaping clean energy policy at every level. From federal legislation to statehouse hearings and inter-Tribal collaborations, our advocacy centers sovereignty, equity, and justice.
For resources, toolkits, or to connect with our team, please reach out to policy@tribalcleanenergy.org
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