What We Do
Through our programmatic pillars, we support Tribal self-determination and Tribally-led decision-making, positioning Tribes as leaders in the renewable energy transition and fostering a future that is both culturally grounded and sustainable.
Tribal Nation Building
Advancing Tribal Energy Sovereignty & Sacred Site Protection
Federal and state policies significantly impact Tribal sovereignty, cultural resource protection, and economic self-sufficiency. Yet, systemic barriers often prevent Tribal Nations from fully participating in energy policy discussions. The Policy and Regulatory Advocacy Program helps to strengthen Southwest Pueblos and Tribes’ voices in developing and advocating for energy laws, regulations, and infrastructure development decisions to maximally benefit Tribes and Indigenous communities.
As the U.S. rapidly expands both renewable and non-renewable energy infrastructure, the protection of Tribal cultural resources has never been more urgent. Large-scale energy projects—such as transmission lines and utility-scale renewable energy installations—frequently span vast distances, crossing Tribal lands, sacred sites, and culturally significant areas. To safeguard these resources for future generations, it is critical that renewable energy expansion, whether on Tribal or non-Tribal lands, is informed and led by Tribal leadership.
Sovereign Energy provides strategic support, resources, and connections to help Tribes effectively engage in legislative, administrative, and regulatory processes. Our goal is to create a policy landscape where Tribal-led energy solutions, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship are central to decision-making at all levels of government.
Our work:
Helps Tribes understand, navigate, and shape federal and state energy policies, laws, regulations, and rulemakings through education, workshops, peer learning, and advisory support.
Promotes Tribal energy self-determination, sovereignty, and reduced regulatory barriers to energy development.
Ensures energy projects protect sacred sites, cultural resources, traditional ecological knowledge, and Tribal priorities.
Provides technical, legal, and policy assistance for consultation, administrative processes, resolutions, testimony, and policy proposals.
Supports cross-jurisdictional coordination, negotiation, collaboration, and conflict resolution among Tribes, states, and federal agencies.
Strengthens Tribal consultation requirements and enforceable protections for sacred and culturally significant lands.
Increases Tribal participation in state and federal energy committees, task forces, and rulemaking processes.
Community Building:
Transforming the Status Quo
The legacies of energy extraction, exploitation, and political barriers undermine Tribal energy self-determination, disrupting and causing harm to Indigenous communities and Tribal Nation-building. As a result, 14 percent of households on Native American reservations have no access to electricity, according to the Energy Information Administration. Native Americans, as compared to white communities, also face elevated levels of pollution from fossil fuel extraction.
We believe Tribal communities have a right to know what is impacting their communities and to be properly included in decision-making processes. Our work promotes knowledge building, inclusion, and systemic change needed to advance Tribal energy sovereignty.
Our work:
Helps communities access utility and government programs that support renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Educates community members on federal and state energy policies and processes.
Builds community agency by increasing participation in public decision-making and policy processes.
Supports policies that address energy insecurity, including lack of access to electricity and high utility costs.
