Cody Two Bear, who stands Rock Sioux, served in his tribal council during the Dakota pipeline protests in 2017. She grew up in a coal -backed society, and the experiment was transformative. Two Bir said: “I have seen the extraction of energy that put great losses on the tribal nations when it comes to the land, animals, water and sacred sites.” “Understanding more about that energy, I started looking at my own tribe.”
In 2018, two of the bear were established The power of the indigenous population, A non -profit organization works with tribes to follow the sovereignty of energy and economic development through the start of clean energy projects. Last year, with nearly $ 136 million of federal financing through solar energy for all, a program managed by the Environmental Protection Agency, the non -profit organization launched the tribal renewable energy alliance, which aims to build solar projects with 14 tribal countries in the northern plains.
But when President Donald Trump took office in January, these projects struck a wall: the Trump administration freezed solar energy for all financing. This alliance was temporarily left and its members earlier this year without reaching the assigned grant (later issued in March). However, the Environmental Protection Agency is studying the end The program is completely.
The coalition has returned to the right track through its solar plans, but now the tribes and organizations, such as those with which TWO Bear works, are preparing for new changes.
When President Trump A beautiful beautiful billOr OBB, it became a law last month, incentives for clean energy projects such as the tax credits of wind, solar energy and clean energy were made – a blow to the renewable energy sector and a major setback for tribal countries. Move from federal agencies to finishing programs has also turned the project scene. The current number of affected projects run by the tribes is unknown. According to the coalition for clean tribal energy, at least 100 tribes received money from federal agencies and the law to reduce inflation; However, these numbers can be higher. “Without this support, most of these projects, if not all of these projects are at risk of killing by the unclear new federal approval, said.”
Energy projects throughout the country folding forgetting after “one beautiful bill” for Trump
For example, the Shayan Six River tribe Planned solar energy projects It depends on federal tax cuts. Projects are designed to operate a community health clinic and schools and a radio station that broadcasts emergency notifications during winter storms. However, with the passage of OBB, the tribe must now start building by July next year or lose credits, an achievement that does not explain the time it takes to secure capital at different stages, search for a full environmental review, and move in long time tables through the Indian Affairs Office.
“Some of these projects, at least, have stopped, or they must somehow to suit the current parameters that were developed by the administration,” said Verrin Kewenvoyouma, Hopi and Navajo, and an administrative partner in the Kewenvoyouma Law that helps the tribes with cultural resources, and energy development. “We have customers looking for creative solutions, trying to keep them alive.”
In June, the internal council of Michigan, a joint organization representing 12 federal hat in the state, joined the state, The semester suit Against the Environmental Protection Agency, along with a tribe in Alaska, on the pretext that the agency was illegally frozen from accessing the project’s promised funds from the program of granting the Environmental Justice and Climate Bloc. the Now finish The program promised from 3 billion to 350 received to finance projects that deal with pollution and high energy costs. The prosecutors hope that the program will be repeated Hanging projects It can be restarted.
Tribes are now seeking charitable work, short -term financing and traditional financing to cover delay and gaps in project costs. After the Guidiville band from Pomo Indians in California lost access to a $ 3.55 million The BIA Award to the tribe for the development of solar microGrid in March, gave the Bquest Foundation, which specializes in covering the expenses needed to continue housing or climate -related projects, the tribe is one million dollars to resume the project’s schedule.
Currently, the autonomous coalition covers tribal projects that have witnessed a sudden loss of tax credits, the abolition of federal funds, and the uncertainty in direct wages. “We are helping to move in this difficult period and continue their self-specific paths, whatever the matter for them-to the sovereignty of energy,” said Sherry Smith, CEO of the organization. Currently, the coalition offers a mix of grants from $ 50 to $ 500,000, loans of up to one million dollars, which will be transferred to grants in the event of failure to pay the tribe.
John Lewis said: “The tribes need to build an internal ability to do this and control their energy situation, for their members exposed to danger and organs in general,” said John Lewis. “In such a critical stage, access to reliable electricity at reasonable prices is very important. The country is getting hotter. The world is getting hotter. It heats up.”