Tribal Clean Energy Symposium at RE+

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Welcome & Opening Blessing
Hosted by the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. Land acknowledgment, context for the day, and a call to action rooted in Tribal sovereignty, climate justice, and long-term partnership.

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM

Opening Spark Talk
 A call to action rooted in Tribal sovereignty, climate justice, and long-term partnership.

9:15 AM – 10:30 AM

Session 1: Benefits and Opportunities: Partnering with Tribes on Clean Energy Initiatives
This foundational session offers practical guidance for clean energy professionals and organizations new to working with Tribes. Topics include:

• Understanding Tribal sovereignty and self-determination
• Respectful outreach and engagement (Matt Dannenberg)
• Siting and permitting: cultural landscapes, viewsheds, jurisdiction, and tribal permitting processes
• Avoiding common missteps and extractive practices

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Session 2: Cultivating Trust and Respectful Engagement with Tribal Nations
A high-level introduction to Pathways to Trust: A Learning Journey Toward Equitable Tribal Partnerships. Explore how cultural awareness, historical understanding, and values-aligned communication are critical to forging ethical, effective collaborations.

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Lunch & Spark Talk

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM

Session 3: Financing Tribal Clean Energy Projects: Capital Stack Strategies and Tools
Learn how to approach capital stack planning with Tribes, including grants, tax credits, federal funding, loans, and Tribal capital. Preview a new shared document library designed to support replicable, transparent, and Tribal-centered financial structuring.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Session 4: Designing Clean Energy Projects that Deliver Tribal and Developer Benefits
Successful Tribal clean energy projects are built on alignment between community priorities and developer goals. This session explores how to design projects that create long-term value for both partners. Key focus areas include:

• Electrifying critical infrastructure (schools, clinics, community facilities) to ensure project relevance and impact
• Supporting energy sovereignty through resilient systems, including their impacts on food and water
• Designing with cultural values in mind to strengthen trust, community buy-in, and project longevity

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Session 5: Partnering with Tribes on Workforce Development for Clean Energy Projects  
Learn how to engage Tribal Nations as workforce development partners in clean energy. This session explores strategies for aligning project labor needs with Tribal community goals to create lasting, mutually beneficial outcomes. Topics include:

• Building partnerships with Tribal colleges and training providers with the goal of developing robust Native candidate pools
• Integrating Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) into project design, for the benefit of developers and Tribes
• Supporting career pathways and Tribal Member engagement in the energy transition

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM

Afternoon Break

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM

Session 6: Tribal Clean Energy Case Studies – Successes, Challenges, and Lessons for Partners
Hear directly from Tribal leaders and project partners about their clean energy journeys—from vision and planning to implementation and impact. Learn what made these projects successful, what challenges were faced, and how partners can better support Tribal priorities moving forward. This session offers valuable insights for Tribes, developers, funders, and government agencies seeking to build more effective, collaborative clean energy partnerships.