Today, Clean Energy for America, in partnership with Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, held a press call on the devastating impact of the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) on Tribal communities and Tribal-led clean energy projects. Cody Two Bears from Indigenized Energy, Claudio Clini from the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, and Clara Pratte from Navajo Power discussed how OBBBA undermines critical clean energy projects that create jobs, lower energy costs, and support Tribal sovereignty.

“It’s essential we build sustainable programs so communities can manage their own energy future,” said Cody Two Bears, Founder and CEO of Indigenized Energy.

“Navajo Power came as a response to what we saw as a very extractive and exploitive energy paradigm in tribal communities, and it’s something that we want to make sure doesn’t happen again with renewables,” said Clara Pratte, Executive Chair of Navajo Power. “Unfortunately, Trump’s budget bill took money out of the pockets of tribal communities that were working to invest in themselves and in clean energy. The demand for energy is only going to continue in the coming years, and tribal communities must be players in the clean energy world.”

“The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy truly believes that every tribe deserves the ability and the assistance in going on their own energy sovereignty journey, and that journey is self determined, as it’s their right as sovereign nations,” said Claudio Clini, Policy Analyst of Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. “When you’re taking clean energy jobs that people have been training for, and you’re taking these projects away, and they no longer have those jobs to rely on, it hurts the ability of the tribe to build up their economy.”

Before Trump and Congress attacked America’s clean energy boom, the clean energy economy was thriving nationwide. Republicans in Congress repealed the same energy tax credits that fueled 3.5 million clean energy jobs across the country. Now, Tribal communities are watching critical projects and economic opportunities disappear. At least 100 tribes are being impacted by the clean energy funding cuts, delays, and bottlenecks created by the Trump administration and Congress, according to the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. Tribes will also see a larger impact from cuts and the early phase-out of clean energy tax credits. 

A recording of the press call is available here.