GRANTEE

Tribal Energy Alternatives (TEA)

Tribal Energy Alternatives (TEA), a Tribal-led affiliate of GRID Alternatives, centers Tribal Nations as the owners and decision-makers of their own energy projects. Through the Tribal Solar Access Initiative, TEA helps move shovel-ready solar projects that Tribal communities are already pursuing across the finish line.

Solar

United States (Tribal Nations)

Tribal Energy Alternatives, Pine Ridge, South Dakota

Tribal Energy Alternatives, Pine Ridge, South Dakota

Focus & Impact

Energy Access Challenges at Home.  Many Tribal communities face high energy costs and unreliable grid access despite significant renewable energy potential. Community-supported, shovel-ready solar projects can still stall because of a final capital gap or barriers like permitting and interconnection.

Closing the Final Gap.  TEA provides targeted gap funding to move these projects into construction, paired with technical assistance, construction oversight, workforce training, and project-specific policy support activated only where barriers arise. Completed installations can reduce household energy costs by 75 to 90 percent.

Tribal-Led and Locally Owned.  The selected Tribal Nation is a co-designer and implementation partner and will own and operate the completed system, with workforce training building local capacity to run and expand it over time.

Project Funded

TEA is using its Energy Corps grant primarily as gap funding to advance one or more shovel-ready Tribal solar projects. TEA expects the installation to serve approximately 20–75+ Tribal households, or potentially a community facility serving a larger population– a reminder that energy access challenges exist in the United States, too.

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

“When we invest in Tribal communities, we are not simply investing in energy infrastructure — we are investing in people, careers, self-determination, and the long-term resilience of our communities.”

“When we invest in Tribal communities, we are not simply investing in energy infrastructure — we are investing in people, careers, self-determination, and the long-term resilience of our communities.”

Tanksi Clairmont,

Co-Executive Director, Tribal Energy Alternatives

Tanksi Clairmont,

Co-Executive Director, Tribal Energy Alternatives

ENERGY CORPS + TEA: WHY IT MATTERS

Energy Corps is proud to stand with TEA and the Tribal Nations leading these projects. By closing the final funding and permitting barriers that hold back ready-to-build, community-led solar, this partnership enables reliable electricity access, builds local workforce capacity, and advances energy sovereignty — with Tribal Nations owning and directing the work.

Visit Tribal Energy Alternatives

Tribal Energy Alternatives, Pine Ridge, South Dakota

Tribal Energy Alternatives, Pine Ridge, South Dakota