Ian Barlow, Sandeep Pai, Rishi Kishore, Deeksha Pande | December 2024
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Executive Summary
Tribes across the country have begun to explore the potential of renewable energy to drive their economies, provide both short-term and permanent jobs, and increase their energy independence. Thus far, however, tribes have depended on private sector, mostly non-Native companies to provide jobs and electricity infrastructure, so pursuing these projects on their own terms would give them a greater say in the renewable energy sector, their region economies, and the economic futures of their members.
Solar power accounts for the vast majority of energy generation potential on tribal lands (50% from photovoltaic solar and 37% from concentrating solar power [CSP]) followed by wind (11%), according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In total, there are around 50 million acres of tribal lands in the US, and about 6.5% of that is well-suited for at least one form of renewable energy. At a conservative estimate of 10 acres required per MW of solar energy, tribal lands have the potential to produce 325,000 MW of energy. One MW can power around 1,000 homes on average, which highlights just how great the potential of renewable energy on Native lands is. While much of this potential is untapped, there are many promising projects underway or in advanced planning stages across the country.