ODOE Team Joins Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians for 2023 NW Tribal Clean Energy Summit
On June 13-15, members of the Oregon Department of Energy team joined Tribal leaders, citizens, staff, youth, and other collaborators for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians’ (ATNI) 2023 NW Tribal Clean Energy Summit in Tulalip, WA.
ODOE was proud to sponsor the summit, which brought people together to talk about the cultural, economic, and social challenges of implementing clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest. In particular, ATNI hoped the summit would:
Ensure that Tribes have the information, support, capacity and resources necessary to plan for and implement Tribal Energy Projects.
Increase Tribal awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by other Tribes in developing energy projects and when partnering with outside partners for planning, policy development and project implementation.
Improving project success by appropriately engaging and consulting with Tribes.
Assess Tribal needs interests, and priorities related to Energy sovereignty, while providing listening opportunities for intertribal collaboration to move those priorities forward.
ODOE staff enjoyed the opportunity to connect with summit participants, and sat on several panels to share our energy expertise and latest projects and programs:
Associate Director for Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir presented on a panel about energy facility project siting, including the Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment project, as well as a panel on funding opportunities that can support Tribal goals.
Senior Policy Analyst Rob Del Mar provided an overview of energy grid resilience, including forthcoming federal funding that can support Tribes’ clean energy and climate change projects and goals.
Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse and Senior Energy Policy Analyst Amy Schlusser dove into energy planning and development, including the co-benefits of energy efficiency projects and the history of energy decisions in the Pacific Northwest.
ODOE’s new Energy Policy Team Lead Edith Bayer and our new Community Engagement Specialist Sarah Moehrke listened in on sessions throughout the conference, and RARE Member Angela Singleton hosted an information booth to connect with conference attendees about ODOE programs and projects.
“ODOE is grateful to have the opportunity to sponsor the NW Tribal Clean Energy Summit,” said ODOE’s Ruchi Sadhir, who also serves as the agency’s Tribal liaison. “It was a wonderful way to connect with our Tribal and other partners about how the State of Oregon can support Pacific Northwest Tribes’ clean energy goals.”
"ATNI is incredibly grateful for ODOE's support and sponsorship of the 2023 Tribal Clean Energy Summit,” said Dr. Chas Jones, ATNI Acting Climate Resilience Program Director. “We would never be able to pull off such an event without the experience and expertise of our many partners."