Clean energy projects offer a crucial path for Native American tribes to achieve energy sovereignty (control over their energy resources) and address a long history of energy inequity. Energy inequity for Tribes takes a variety of forms, including higher utility rates, older grid infrastructure, more frequent outages, and, still today, 14% of Native Americans living on tribal lands lacking electricity altogether. 

The Energy Optimist’s guest, Chéri Smith, is the founder, President, and CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, which supports tribes’ self-determined efforts to develop clean energy. Chéri joins the conversation about the energy inequities facing Native American communities and systemic barriers that currently impede Tribal development and ownership of clean energy projects.