A tribal solar project. Terrace mart
Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, in partnership with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Lemelson Foundation and other philanthropies, launched the Indigenous Power & Light Fund for Energy Sovereignty at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual 2024 meeting, where the Fund will be presented by the Clinton Foundation as a commitment to action.
Aimed at accelerating the progress of tribal clean energy initiatives, this catalytic pooled fund aims to accelerate tribal clean energy projects by financing upfront costs not typically covered by federal funding.
With an initial goal of $100 million, this revolving fund has the potential to unlock billions in federal funding, helping Native American tribes and Alaska Native communities overcome the significant financial barriers that currently hinder the implementation of clean energy projects.
“We are deeply grateful to the Clinton Global Initiative and our philanthropic partners who believe in the potential of this fund to create transformative change within tribal communities across the country,” said Chéri Smith, president and CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. “By prioritizing tribal ownership and control, the fund ensures that the benefits of clean energy projects go directly to tribal communities, strengthening economies, self-determination and true sovereignty. Most importantly, these projects instill hope in tribal communities, where hope is often in short supply.”
More than a third of the funding has been committed and the fund is on track to reach its original goal of $100 million by the end of 2025.
“We are honored to co-found the Indigenous Power and Light Fund. The Fund will support tribes as they work to take control of their energy future and create impactful opportunities for economic development, energy sovereignty and to be leaders in the transition to a clean energy economy,” said Carrie Doyle, Environmental Program Officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. “The fund will be a beacon of hope and a vital source of support for Indigenous communities as they chart their own path to a clean energy future.”
News item from the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy
