Despite comprising only 5.8% of the land in the 48 contiguous states, Native American tribes could provide 10% of the nation’s total energy and 6.7% of its renewable energy capacity, but this remains undeveloped given a multitude of barriers. And despite this capacity, over 14% of households on Native American reservations (“Indian Country”) lack access to electricity.
The energy paradox in Indian Country highlights an enormous opportunity to shift the paradigm of colonial and exploitive energy development on tribal lands to one that bolsters tribal cultural values, environments, sovereignty, and economies while positioning tribes as profitable leaders in the nation’s renewable energy transition. The fireside chat will engage the audience on how various sectors–governmental, not-for-profit, investors, and entrepreneurs–may accelerate decarbonization and social equity goals in the US and beyond using innovative models in Indian Country as a case study.
