Breaking News

• May 10 – Statement of Intent to participate in Western’s renewable energy certificate solicitation for 2013 - Deadline extended!
• May 26 – Early-bird registration deadline for ACEEE 2013 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry  
• June 13 – EDA Economic Development Assistance Programs Federal Funding Opportunity (funding cycle 4)
• June 20 −  Applications for Tribal Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Deployment Assistance
• June 27 − Applications for Community-Scale Clean Energy Projects in Indian Country

July 25
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MDT

Join the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, DOE Tribal Energy Program and Western’s Renewables Program July 25 for the free webinar, Grid Reliability – Impacts to Tribal Renewable Projects.  

Compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s  (NERC) reliability standards became mandatory in 2008, raising the importance of compliance programs throughout the electric industry and exposing noncompliant entities to monetary sanctions. This webinar provides an overview of the purpose and organization of a compliance program, what parts of the bulk electric system the program covers, the range of reliability standards affecting power operations and maintenance, responsible registered entities and how reliability requirements can impact tribal renewable projects.

This is the seventh webinar in the Tribal Energy Self-sufficiency series covering such topics and tribal renewable development opportunities, transmission policy, the future of the transmission grid, details about NERC compliance and how to  request transmission service.  The final webinar, DOE Office of Indian Energy’s START Program Status Updates, is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2012. Presentations from past webinars are available in Western’s Renewables Program webcast library.   

This event is free, but space is limited and registration  is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

 May 30, 2012
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MDT

Utilities’ generation portfolios are changing—often faster than the infrastructure that supports it—and power providers now face the challenge of integrating new generation and demand (load) response technologies into a grid that was designed to operate a different way. Western, the U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs and the DOE Tribal Energy Program invite tribal utility managers and resource engineers to Today’s Energy Supply – Yesterday’s Grid, a free, informative webinar May 30 to explore strategies for meeting these demands.

Speakers include experts from the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research and the Western Grid Group. Presentations will cover:

1. Key findings in the MIT Energy Initiative Report on the changes needed in the US Grid to handle expected challenges such as the influx of electric cars and wind and solar generation
2. Western Grid Group’s Clean Energy Vision Project, which charts a sustained, orderly transition from the carbon intensive electricity system of today to a cleaner, smarter and healthier electricity system of the future.

There is no charge to attend the webinar, however you must register to participate.

Feb. 29, 2012
Webinar 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m MST

Learn how transmission policy is established and enforced, and the impact policy has on transmission resources at a free webinar, Unwinding Transmission Policies, Feb. 29 at 11:00 am to 12:30 pm MST. 

This webinar is the fourth in a series presented by the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, DOE Tribal Energy Program and Western. The series will continue through September 2012 and cover topics such as tribal renewable project opportunities, transmission policy, vision of tomorrow’s transmission grid, National Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) compliance and requesting transmission service. 

Space is limited, so register today. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Free webinar
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST

The Department of Energy’s Tribal Energy Program and Western Area Power Administration are presenting Overview of US Department of Energy Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), a free webinar, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. Mountain time. 

Speaker Jon Worthington of Western will provide a description of PMAs and cover their service territories, power resources, role in delivering Federal power to customers and methods of determining power rates.  A discussion on preference customer qualifications is also part of the agenda.

This is the second webinar in a series for Native American tribes scheduled to run through July 2012. Presentations from the Aug. 17 webinar, Challenges and Opportunities with Tribal Renewable Energy Development, are available from the Public Renewables Partnership. Future topics include transmission policy, vision of tomorrow’s transmission grid, what you need to know about Federal Energy Regulatory Commission compliance, and overview of requesting transmission service.

This series highlights key technical, policy and market issues that tribes need to understand to successfully respond to utility requests for proposals for renewable energy generation. Participants will increase their knowledge about the competitive power markets and other issues surrounding renewable resource development.

Tribe members who are interested in responding to utility-offered renewable RFPs, or who would like to learn more about the competitive power market, and utility professionals interested in working with tribes on renewable energy development should register today for Overview of US Department of Energy Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs).  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Join Western and the DOE Tribal Energy Program for a FREE webinar, Aug. 17, on Challenges and Opportunities with Tribal Renewable Energy Development, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mountain Time.

Utilities in Western’s 15-state territory need renewable energy and renewable energy certificates to meet goals and mandates. Native American tribes have abundant renewable resources on tribal lands, and jobs and economic development would come from building generation projects. This webinar is for tribes who are interested in responding to renewable Requests for Proposals from utilities, or who simply want to learn more about the competitive power market. 

There are many challenges that beset renewable project development—from transmission interconnection and availability to conditions that are unique to each tribe. Speakers from utilities, government agencies and developers will offer their perspectives on how tribes can navigate the obstacles to create winning partnerships that result in successful tribal renewable projects. Expect frank discussions on what utilities expect in a tribal proposal to a renewable RFP, along with examples of success. See the full agenda.

Register online, or contact Guy Nelson at 541-994-4670 or 541-921-1127 for more information. Due to limited space, early registration is STRONGLY encouraged.

DOE’s Tribal Energy Program offers many publications and programs to help Indian tribes develop clean energy and energy efficiency resources:

• Renewable Energy Development in Indian Country: A Handbook for Tribes is an accessible reference for those who are new to energy project development or seek a refresher on key development issues as they navigate the project development process. Developed by Douglas MacCourt of Ater Wynne LLP for the Tribal Energy Program, the handbook supports tribal leaders, tribal economic and energy enterprises with overviews of the renewable energy project development process, discussion on how to protect tribal interests and exploration of financing options.
   
• The recently updated Renewable Energy Development on Tribal Lands brochure provides an overview of the program, including mission and purpose, 129 funded tribal energy projects, renewable energy resource information, education and training, technical assistance, and information resources. Download a copy on the Tribal Energy Program website.
• Technical assistance and services offered by the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. DEMD provides technical assistance and scientific information to help tribes and allottees maximize their resource potential from oil and gas, renewable energy, or mineral resources.
• Technical assistance to tribal EECBG recipients—DOE’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) will be undertaking some new initiatives to provide technical assistance to Tribal Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant recipients.  Learn more about TAP for tribal EECBG recipients.
• More technical assistance opportunities are available to assist Federally-recognized Indian tribes, bands, nations or other organized groups and communities with renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. It may include renewable energy technology information, renewable resource information, energy efficiency techniques, project support, system performance modeling, policy information, design review, special studies, strategic energy planning and training. Download the technical assistance request form, fill it out, and forward it to the Tribal Energy Program.
• Student internships are available to current college upper-classmen and graduate students for summer 2011 internships. Students must be U.S. citizens and Native Americans with specific interest in renewable energy. Applications are due Feb. 18, 2011. Download the application, or learn more the internship program, and see comments of past interns and their papers.