Tribal households in this country pay more than the average for electricity, and members of tribes often face a higher energy burden--the percentage of household income spent on energy—than many people. Also, there also are about 17,000 homes on tribal land have no electricity, according to a 2023 U.S. Department of Energy report to Congress. The report also noted the critical need for electricity infrastructure on tribal lands, some of which has been addressed through federal grants, loans and technical assistance to tribes.

On this episode we discussed energy security and energy challenges in Indian Country with Daniel Cardenas Jr., the CEO, president and chairman of the board of the National Tribal Energy Association, and Trent Marlett, energy manager for the utility authority of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Cardenas’ organization represents the four largest energy producing tribes. He noted that access to reasonably priced electricity is the greatest concern for tribal members and said the vast energy resources on tribal lands mean the future of energy is going to include them. Marlett explained how the Choctaw Nation works with their state energy generators to manage new projects and to try to stay up with the growth in the area and how folks in his state view energy security.

Resources

• Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• National Tribal Energy Association