WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and eight federal agencies today announced two historic Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Hopi Tribe and an amended MOU with the Navajo Nation supporting the Tribes’ economic revitalization efforts.
The multiyear agreements aim to ease Tribal access to federal funding available through national policies including the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) along with programs offered annually by agencies.
“The Office of Indian Energy wanted to create a structure helping ensure Tribes can leverage the once-in-a-generation federal funding aimed at increasing prosperity and enhancing well-being in underserved and struggling communities across the United States,” said Office of Indian Energy Director Wahleah Johns. “Tribes like the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe have played a critical role in powering the West for 50 years, and we are excited to support them to lead the way toward this clean energy transition for decades to come.” The MOUs are the cornerstone of the White House Council of Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) initiative and spearheaded by DOE’s Office of Indian Energy, which is dedicating staff time and resources to facilitate strategic energy and economic planning with Tribes.
Originally published at https://www.energy.gov/indianenergy/articles/us-department-energy-leads-interagency-agreement-hopi-tribe-and-navajo-nation
