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Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund in the US

Deadline: 15-Jul-22

The GRID Alternatives is seeking proposals for its Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) which aims to catalyze the growth of solar energy and expand solar job opportunities in tribal communities across the United States.

The TSAF in collaboration with tribes and tribal leaders aims to address challenges and opportunities related to energy sovereignty, climate resilience and resource sustainability.

TSAF Grant Priorities 
  • The TSAF will provide necessary capital to support the development of new solar projects in tribal communities around Indian Country
  • The TSAF supports and encourages solar education, training, and workforce development in tribal communities
  • The TSAF prioritizes the development of long-term energy plans to increase tribal energy security and resiliency.
Funding Areas
  • Tribal Facility Solar Project Funding can include rooftop, carport or ground-mount solar installations that meet the energy needs of the tribal community.
    • Tribal Facility Solar Projects Priority:
      • The TSAF will provide necessary funding to tribes for solar installations on tribal facilities that have the potential to generate significant cost-savings to the tribe, and/or catalyze other business development outcomes.
    • Tribal Facility Solar Projects Objectives:
      • To enhance and strengthen tribal energy development and infrastructure
      • To support solar projects that benefit tribal community members, tribal staff/administration, and/or tribal programs
      • To serve tribal facilities with high energy needs and costs
      • Tribal residential solar project funding is designated for solar energy installed on a single-family home or small multi-family complex to significantly reduce the financial burden spent on electricity costs.
  • Tribal residential solar projects will be for low-income single-family homes in tribal communities.
    • Tribal Residential Solar Projects Priority:
      • The TSAF will provide necessary funding to tribes for solar installations on tribal homes to generate significant cost-savings to tribal residents.
    • Tribal Residential Solar Projects Objectives:
      • To bring solar energy to low-income single-family homes or small multi-family complexes on tribal land
      • To reduce and stabilize energy costs for low-income tribal members
      • To serve tribal members with high energy needs and costs
Funding Information

Tribes are eligible to apply for up to $200,000 total, which can include one or both of the funding areas, for example: $125,000 facility + $75,000 residential.

Eligibility Criteria

The TSAF eligibility criteria is as follows:

  • Federally recognized tribal governments in the lower 48 states and Alaska (tribal government programs, such as tribal housing authority, cultural departments, economic development entities, etc.)
  • Tribally-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (fiscally-sponsored tribal community organizations, tribal community organizations without a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status may submit an application through a sponsoring organization if the sponsor has IRS 501(c)(3) status and can provide written authorization confirming its willingness to act as the fiscal sponsor.
  • Schools that are tribally-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and schools that are tribally-operated such as tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), any public or Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools.
  • The definition of “tribal-led” is: an organization in which a majority (>51%) of the board of directors and leadership team are American Indian or Alaska Native. Organizations that are not tribal-led are not eligible to apply (with or without a fiscal sponsor).
  • For tribal facility projects, the community served must be designated low-to-moderate income (LMI) as demonstrated by eligibility for federal, state, or tribal low-income programs, or with Census data.
  • For tribal household or multi-family projects, the resident households must be 80% or below the area median income as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or another LMI-serving program.

For more information, visit https://tribalsolar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-TSAF-Facility-Residential-Grant-RFP-.docx.pdf