Eligibility Criteria for Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects Under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act

(U.S. Forest Service) The Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017 amends the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), to enter into contracts or agreements with Indian tribes, and, in Alaska, tribal organizations to carry out demonstration projects to promote biomass energy production on Indian forest land and in nearby communities by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from federal lands.

The Act contains Eligibility Criteria required to be addressed by an Indian tribe or tribal organization in their application to the Secretary, in order to enter into Biomass Demonstration Projects. The Eligibility Criteria are required to be made publically available not later than 120 days after the date of the Act's enactment. The Act also contains Selection Criteria, which will be used, without modification, by the Secretary to evaluate applications submitted. The Act's Eligibility and Selection Criteria will be used, without modification, to select biomass demonstration projects on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.

For Tribal Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires, for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary to enter into stewardship contracts or similar agreements (excluding direct service contracts) with Indian tribes to carry out at least four new demonstration projects to promote biomass energy production (including biofuel, heat, and electricity generation) on Indian forest land, and in nearby communities, by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from Federal land.

For Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires, for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary to enter into an agreement or contract with an Indian tribe or a tribal organization to carry out at least one new demonstration project to promote biomass energy production (including biofuel, heat, and electricity generation) by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from Federal land. The terms Indian tribe and tribal organization have the same meanings as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (section 4, 25 U.S.C. 5304). READ MORE