Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grants
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.148
- Agency
-
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 147 $29,464,177 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (TEDC )
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-2100-7-8-302
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education (CFDA 15.148) funds Tribal Energy Development Capacity grants for federally recognized tribal entities and Tribal Energy Development Organizations to build managerial, organizational, legal, and technical capacity for energy resource development on tribal lands, with the most recent award issued June 2, 2025.
The program funds capacity-building activities that precede and enable energy projects: establishment of tribal business entities and utility authorities, development or updating of tribal energy codes and regulations, creation of legal frameworks for land leasing and business formation, and workforce development planning. Recent awards show tribes using TEDC funding to conduct feasibility studies for tribal utility authorities (TUAs), develop strategic energy plans, assess renewable energy potential (solar, wind, geothermal), and establish regulatory infrastructure for distributed energy resources and microgrids. Unlike infrastructure grants that fund physical construction, TEDC explicitly supports the institutional foundations necessary to plan, govern, and finance subsequent energy development. The program cannot award multi-year funding; recipients must request extension of the period of performance 30 days before expiration if continuation is needed.
Awards are predominantly Project Grants (146 of 147, or 99%) with minimal use of Block Grants. The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Central Office dominates funding, accounting for 134 awards totaling $27.6 million federal dollars obligated, while the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education branch awarded 13 grants totaling $1.9 million, for a combined portfolio of $29.5 million federal dollars obligated across 147 awards since 2015. Award volatility is evident in recent years: 2024 saw a spike to 51 awards; 2025 dropped to 16 awards through June; 2023 contracted to only 5 awards. Individual award magnitudes typically range from $75 thousand to $450 thousand, though recent 2024 awards for aggregate or quarry feasibility studies reached $850 thousand to $1.47 million.
Representative 2025 awards include the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma's $250 thousand grant for a tribal utility authority feasibility study examining energy sovereignty and renewable integration; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians' $281.4 thousand award to develop a TUA and establish governance for local energy management; Knik Tribe's $242.7 thousand grant to evaluate renewable energy resource opportunities and assess pathways to become a tribal utility authority or independent power producer; and Kawerak Inc. (on behalf of Unaatuq Tribal Energy Development Organization) receiving $445.5 thousand to establish a tribal utility structure and develop geothermal energy development capacity. Older representative awards from 2024 include Walker River Paiute Tribe's $650.4 thousand geothermal exploration project, Spokane Tribe's $148.4 thousand solar and battery system feasibility study, and multiple tribes receiving $180 thousand to $250 thousand for TUA feasibility and strategic energy planning work.
A current solicitation (BIA-TEDC-2025-01) posted October 18, 2024, with an application deadline of January 16, 2025, seeks proposals from federally recognized tribal governments for capacity-building projects including tribal business charter establishment, secured transactions code adoption, and tribal utility authority feasibility studies. An earlier closed solicitation (TEMP-24287) ran from October 2023 through January 11, 2024, and a parallel Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) grant (BIA-EMDP-2024-01) funds pre-development resource assessments and feasibility studies for energy and mineral exploitation, with a previous due date of May 24, 2024. Awards issued within 45–60 days after solicitation closure; final award notices and non-selection notices are distributed via GrantSolutions. Eligible applicants are federally recognized Indian tribal governments and, in some solicitations, Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations, tribal consortiums, and tribal energy development organizations. Appeal of a denial is available to the Board of Indian Appeals or U.S. District Court under 25 CFR Part 900.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide development grants to Indian tribes for use in developing and sustaining the managerial and technical capacity needed to develop their energy resources, and to properly account for resulting energy production and revenues. Proposals from
- Description
The Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant provides Federally recognized Tribal entities and Tribal Energy Development Organizations with financial assistance to help them build the management, organizational, legal, and technical capacity needed to plan, regulate, and advance energy resource development on Tribal lands. TEDC supports Tribes in strengthening the foundational structures required to successfully manage energy projects, from establishing business entities and utility authorities to developing or updating Tribal laws, codes, and regulatory systems that govern energy development. The program also assists Tribes in creating the legal frameworks needed for business formation, land leasing for energy purposes, and secured transactions, as well as forming Tribal Energy Development Organizations. TEDC is unique because it focuses specifically on the capacity-building elements that must be in place before energy projects can move toward financing or construction. Rather than funding physical infrastructure, the program invests in the policies, institutions, and governance tools that enable Tribes to pursue energy development in alignment with Tribal goals. TEDC can also be used to support Tribes interested in advancing toward a Tribal Energy Resource Agreement. By supporting early-stage planning and governance development, TEDC empowers Tribes to fully evaluate opportunities, reduce project risk, strengthen self-determination, and position their communities for long-term economic benefits from responsible energy development.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Federally Recognized Tribal Governments and their members.
- Uses of assistance
Federally recognized tribes whose lands are held in trust or restricted fee by the Federal government.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Awards are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the recipient. The timing of payments will be negotiated by the Regional Office, Contract Officer, and the recipient.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The proposal ranking criteria factors are as follows: (1) Resource potential; (2) Energy development history and current status; (3) Existing energy development capabilities; (4) Intent to develop and retain energy development capacity within tribal government or business entities; (5) Demonstrated willingness to develop independent energy development business entity; and (6) Tribal commitment to staff, training, or monetary resources. Applications are evaluated on the clarity of its project abstract, the strength and appropriateness of its objectives, technical description, and Tribal motivation, the alignment and quality of its scope of work and deliverables, and the clarity and justification of its budget.
- Award procedure
Funding is awarded to the highest‑rated applications. Awards are issued through GrantSolutions. Written final award notices and written notices of non-selection will be provided to all Tribal grant applicants.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Awards are made within 45-60 days after the solicitation period. The review process involves an initial eligibility and compliance review, followed by a merit-based evaluation to rank complete and eligible applications.
- Renewals
The TEDC program cannot award multi-year funding for a project. Funding available for building energy development capacity is subject to annual appropriations by Congress and therefore IEED can only consider single-year projects. A request to extend the period of performance should be submitted 30 days prior to the expiration of the award.
- Appeals
An applicant with a rejected TEDC proposal may appeal the denial of the application to the Department of the Interior's Board of Indian Appeals or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR Part 900.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 147 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawerak, Inc. | $1,753,414 | 6% |
| 2 | Igiugig Village | $1,472,000 | 5% |
| 3 | Ute Indian Tribe | $1,440,050 | 5% |
| 4 | Southern Ute Indian Tribe | $1,130,000 | 4% |
| 5 | Navajo Nation Tribal Government | $750,610 | 3% |
| 6 | Kanosh Band Of Paiute Indian | $742,720 | 3% |
| 7 | Calista Corp | $721,510 | 2% |
| 8 | Osage Nation | $670,008 | 2% |
| 9 | Walker River Paiute Tribe | $650,433 | 2% |
| 10 | Metlakatla Indian Community | $620,387 | 2% |
10 of 113 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$10,730 |
| FY2025 | $3,325,130 |
| FY2024 | $13,875,282 |
| FY2023 | $2,499,261 |
| FY2022 | $300,000 |
| FY2021 | $6,708,125 |
| FY2020 | $1,104,000 |
| FY2018 | $250,000 |
| FY2017 | $52,500 |
| FY2015 | $1,557,609 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.148?
Assistance Listing 15.148 is Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grants, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grants?
Its CFDA number is 15.148: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.148 awarded?
147 grant awards under 15.148 have obligated $29,464,177 in federal funds to 113 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.148?
The recipients obligated the most under Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grants are Kawerak, Inc. ($1,753,414), Igiugig Village ($1,472,000) and Ute Indian Tribe ($1,440,050).
How much did 15.148 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.148 obligated $3,325,130 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.148?
No opportunity listed under 15.148 is open now. The latest, Tribal Energy Development Capacity, was posted on October 18, 2024.
On GovTribe
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