Working Group 5: Tribal Nations
Overview
Meaningful collaboration with Tribal Nations is essential to responsible large-scale solar development. The Tribal Nations Working Group brings together Tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, associations representing Tribal needs, and industry partners from across the United States. This Working Group is focused on advancing large-scale solar development in ways that center Tribal perspectives, priorities, and sovereignty.
This Working Group aims to address energy access disparities on Tribal lands, promote equitable development outcomes, and incorporate Tribal conservation goals into solar planning efforts.
Key Deliverables
Deliverable #1: Tribal Partnerships Model
This Working Group will develop a Tribal Partnerships Model that will serve as a practical, action-oriented framework for building strong, long-term, equitable partnerships between Tribal nations and solar developers. The model will be developed through interviews with Tribal leaders, utilities, and stakeholders, and a review of existing resources. It will include guiding principles for respectful and equitable partnership, a landscape assessment of current barriers and opportunities, flexible partnership frameworks and engagement tools, and tailored recommendations for both Tribal and non-Tribal stakeholders.
Deliverable #2: Tribal Solar Siting Guidance
This Working Group will develop additional siting guidance as an addendum to the Tribal Partnerships Model, to serve as a resource to guide responsible large-scale solar siting on or near Tribal lands. The model will include best practices for early and respectful engagement, roles and responsibilities for Tribal representatives and developers, common barriers to meaningful consultation, and recommendations for integrating Tribal input into siting decisions.
Project Timeline
All products will be completed by the end of 2026 and made available to the public in early 2027.
Resources
Working Group Co-Chairs
Jean-Luc Pierite – North American Indian Center of Boston & Visiting Scholar at MIT
Dr. Kimberly Yazzie – Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC)