By award of tedc grant program funds to the ewiiaapaayp band of kumeyaay indians (EBKI), the tribe will increase the tribal governments managerial and technical capacity to manage and regulate the…

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs awarded a $185,000 Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) Grant to the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians (EBKI) to develop the tribe's technical, managerial, and organizational capacities for managing and regulating its energy resources. The key products and services to be delivered through this grant include:

Establishing organizational structures and business entities for the tribe to engage in commercial energy development activities, participate in right-of-way and utility contract processes, and form joint venture partnerships. The grant will also fund the improvement of the tribe's existing Section 17 corporation charter, the establishment of tribal energy utility codes and authorities, and the development of tribal energy policies for energy resource leasing, business formation, and regulation. Additionally, the grant will support the creation of emergency response plans to enhance the resilience of the tribe's energy infrastructure and resources.

By award of tedc grant program funds to the ewiiaapaayp band of kumeyaay indians (EBKI), the tribe will increase the tribal governments managerial and technical capacity to manage and regulate the ewiiaapaayp indian reservations energy resources. The EBKI reservation energy resources includes its: wind resource solar resource andgeothermal resource. The EBKI energy projects includes its:electrification project to connect the off-grid reservation tribal community to the public electric grid operated by the independent operating utility (IOU) that is SAN diego gas electric sempra utilities renewable energy project to develop tribal energy resources for the reservation tribal community utility formation to share public energy grid and tribal energy resources with the IOU (SDG E) through state of california public utility commission tariff programs improving resiliency and emergency response of the EBKI tribal energy resources and grid connection from disruption.O description of the elements of the proposed project, the EBKI capacity developing activities funded by tedc grant award are the following: a. Establishing of organizational structure(S) and or business entity structure(S) capable of: (1) engaging in commercial energy development or management activities (2) participating in right-of-way easement permits under 25 CFR part 169 (3) participating in standard business contracts and (4) forming joint venture partnerships, including development of interconnection, creating a tribal energy office, and electric vehicle planning.B. (1) improving already established EBKI section 17 corporation charter (2) establishing tribal energy utility codes and (3) establishing tribal utility authorities formed under tribal codes and utility status to be formed (in progress) under state of california public utility code. C. Developing and enhancing tribal energy policies for:(1) improving tribal regulations for leasing of surface land for energy development (2) improving the already established tribal code legal infrastructure for energy business formation (3) enacting tribal ordinances to regulate or develop energy resources and (4) reviewing and improving already established EBKI tribal secured transactions code. D. Developing emergency response plans during weather events and power outages to reduce the current significant financial and safety burden on EBKI. O need for the project (1)the EBKI is off-grid to the public electric grid.(2)the EBKI electrification project and utility formation project need authorities, policies, codes, and regulations developed in order to provide for affordability and resiliency of the energy resources for the long-term.O description of the objectives the objective of the EBKI tedc project is to develop the specific policies, codes, codes, and regulations that are the foundation for operating and maintaining a robust, reliable, and affordable energy resource for the tribal community and its region in east SAN diego county that is now off-grid. O anticipated outcomes that will result if the project were to be funded the EBKI tedc project will outcomes will deliver the following documents essential to the EBKI use of tribal energy resources and electrification of the reservation under CA PUC requirements:a.organizational and entity structuresb.charters, codes and authorities:C.energy policies:D.emergency response plans:O total funding amount requested $185,000.00O designated tribal project lead authorized to make decisions on the day-to-day grant activitiesmr. Will micklin, CEO, ewiiaapaayp band of kumeyaay indians. (619) 368-4382