Exploring the feasibility and sustainability of renewable energy technologies for Tribal Nations: A multi-case study approach

Due to the severity of climate change and a systemic lack of resources, Tribal Nations face significant energy challenges due to less reliable and less resilient energy systems. The goal of this research is to collaborate directly with these tribal communities to address their energy needs by assisting in developing sustainable, dependable, and efficient energy solution roadmaps for tribal energy sovereignty. The utilization of renewable energy technologies by tribal communities align better with their cultural heritage and preferences, but there are many options to consider for feedstock, technologies and energy products. Specifically, the work presented here focuses on developing energy roadmaps based on different renewable energy technologies that can guide future decision-making by Tribal Nations. The roadmaps will include the preliminary design of scalable energy solutions and economic assessments. A sustainability analysis that addresses the environmental impacts for each energy system will be embedded in this study. At least four energy roadmaps will be developed through this process based on the Tribal Nations preferences as determined through technology survey.