Tribal Nations and supporting organizations do critical work to engage their communities in important decisions around energy infrastructure and its impacts on economic opportunities, cultural resources, and the homelands and spaces that they steward. The $6 million Tribal Energy Capacity Expansion (TECE) Prize, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and facilitated through the National Laboratory of the Rockies, addresses an urgent need for additional resources to help Tribal Nations grow their capacity in energy infrastructure permitting and decision-making.
This prize is technology-neutral, meaning that participating teams may focus on capacity needs related to any energy technology. All submissions should focus on expanding capacity to represent Tribal priorities in energy permitting and decision-making activities. The prize will provide winning teams with cash awards and direct technical assistance, including peer learning activities.
Key topics that applicants may pursue include but are not limited to:
- Developing greater capacity and internal expertise to participate in energy infrastructure permitting and related processes,
- Advancing understanding of workforce, cultural, and economic considerations relevant to Tribal participation in permitting and development processes,
- Exploring opportunities for tools and technology, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to improve permitting processes, reduce costs and capacity needs, or shorten project timelines,
- Pursuing the capacity needed to engage in energy considerations that are relevant to other federal funding opportunities, such as those administered by the DOE Office of Indian Energy.
Awards:- $6,000,000
Deadline:- 05-12-2026
