Energy Technologies
This technology is often paired with batteries to improve resilience during outages.
What is solar PV?
According to DOE's strategic energy planning process, this group should be engaged early to help identify priorities and build support for energy initiatives.
Who are stakeholders (community members, leadership, Tribal departments, utilities, partners, etc.)?
Grants are valuable, but successful projects often require this long-term plan after construction is complete.
What is operations and maintenance planning?
MTERA was founded in 2014 by Tribal energy leaders from these two Wisconsin and Minnesota Tribal Nations.
What are the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Oneida Nation?
What is the best energy technology for a Tribal community?
There is no single correct answer—this depends on community priorities, building conditions, and available resources.
A Tribe wants to reduce winter heating costs in a community building. This strategy often provides the fastest return on investment.
What is energy efficiency/weatherization?
Before setting energy goals, Tribes should first understand their current energy use, costs, infrastructure, and resources through this step.
What is an energy assessment (or assessment of the current energy situation)?
These organizations often help Tribes evaluate projects before major investments are made.
What are technical assistance providers?
MTERA member Tribes represent this many Tribal Nations across Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
What is 33 of the region's 35 Tribal Nations?
In many Midwest Tribal communities, this is the biggest driver of energy costs in homes.
What is space heating (or heating fuel costs)?
These technologies (like heat pumps or EV chargers) increase electricity demand and may require grid upgrades or energy planning.
What is electrification technologies?
Before choosing technologies, a planning team defines high energy bills in homes and outages at critical facilities as key issues to solve. What planning step is this?
What is identifying energy challenges and establishing priorities?
A project receives funding but lacks the staff to manage implementation. What key resource is missing?
What is organizational or workforce capacity?
Tribal lands comprise approximately 2% of U.S. land area but contain about this percentage of the nation's renewable energy resources.
What is 5%?
How does geothermal energy increase the chances of an earthquake?
Small holes must be made where high water pressure and heat is used to extract energy.
This type of energy system can operate independently from the main grid during outages, often combining multiple technologies.
What is a microgrid?
Why might a Tribe choose not to pursue a project that appears technically feasible?
It may not align with community goals, cultural values, available capacity, financial resources, or long-term priorities.
This funding strategy combines multiple grants, incentives, financing sources, or partner contributions to support different parts of a single project.
What is braided funding?
This Minnesota Tribe completed a $3.1 million biomass energy project as part of its path toward energy security and sovereignty.
What is the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa?
True or False: Battery storage can generate electricity during an outage.
What is False?
Name one technology that could help keep critical facilities powered during a grid outage and explain why.
Answers may include solar + storage, microgrids, backup generation, hydropower, etc.
What is one reason strategic energy planning is considered an ongoing process rather than a one-time activity?
Energy needs, technologies, funding opportunities, leadership priorities, and community goals change over time, requiring plans to be updated and refined.
Name one example each of federal, state, and private funding sources that may support Tribal energy projects, workforce development, or community energy initiatives.
Various options - facilitator confirms.
According to MTERA, the estimated investment potential of solar and wind development on Tribal lands is approximately this amount.
What is $75 billion?
This is the point where a renewable energy system connects to the utility grid.
What is the point of interconnection?