Section 50145 of the IRA appropriates $75 million to DOE to carry out its Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program under section 2602(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, 25 U.S.C. § 3502(c), supporting tribal investment in energy projects. The Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program is an Indian energy resource development program aimed at assisting consenting Indian tribes and tribal energy development organizations on the following:
1) the development of managerial and technical capacity needed to develop energy resources on Indian land;
2) the award of grants for projects to promote the integration of energy resources;
3) the provision of low-interest loans to Indian tribes for use in the promotion of energy resource development;
4) the provision of grants and technical assistance to appropriate tribal environment organizations representing multiple Indian tribes, for the establishment of a national resource center for energy-related environmental programs;
5) consultation with Indian tribes prior to the adoption or approval of a well spacing program or plan applicable to the Indian tribe or its members.
The appropriated funding will remain available through September 30, 2028.
Eligible Entities:
Environmental Justice Considerations:
The loan program in this Section supports energy projects by Native American tribes.
Current Status:
Section 50402 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-21) rescinded unobligated funds under this IRA provision.
Trump Administration Actions:
- Congress Passes Budget Bill, Rescinding Funds and Repealing IRA Programs and Tax Credits [07/03/2025]
- DOE Secretary Orders Review of 179 Financial Assistance Awards [05/15/2025]
- House Committee on Energy and Commerce Proposes IRA Rollbacks to DOE Programs [05/13/2025]
- Litigation Compliance Report Indicates DOE Released Previously Frozen Awards [04/23/2025]
- DOE Creating List of Clean Energy Grants to Cancel [03/21/2025]
- DOE Contract Workers Put on Unpaid Leave [02/21/2025]
- OMB Orders Temporary Pause on Financial Assistance Programs, Later Rescinded [01/27/2025]
- DOE Memo Suspends Funding for Projects Involving Community Benefit Plans [01/27/2025]
- OMB Clarifies Scope of the Order to Halt IRA Spending [01/21/2025]
- Trump Issues Executive Order to Halt All IRA Funding Disbursements [01/20/2025]
Implementation Status at End of Biden Administration:
IRA appropriates $75 million to DOE to provide loan guarantees to be used by September 30, 2028. In September 2024, DOE announced a $72.8 million loan guarantee for the Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas Reservation. According to DOE, the loan to the Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas Reservation will “help promote Tribal energy and economic development by helping Native communities unlock the benefits that come with the deployment of clean energy.”