How can a tribe determine whether development of its energy resource(s) is economically feasible?
An energy assessment study can be prepared to determine whether development of a tribe’s energy resource(s) is economically feasible. An energy assessment can assists tribes in planning and negotiating energy resource development. IEED’s Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) has an annual tribal grant program that provides funds on a competitive basis for tribes to perform assessment studies of their energy resources. The grant program, known as the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) has existed for two decades (and was formerly called the Mineral Assessment Program). Many tribes have already taken advantage of this grant program, particularly for assessing conventional energy resources such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Currently, many tribes are applying for grant funds to determine whether their renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal, are economically feasible to develop.
