Tribal Energy Planning and Efficiency Cohort

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program  (TW7G) and the Tribal Energy and Climate Collaborative (TECC) are co-convening a Tribal Energy Planning and Efficiency Cohort, a 6-month-long learning experience taking place from January through June 2026. The cohort will be hosted virtually via Zoom, with an in-person retreat in the spring. Scholarships will be available for workshop attendance. This cohort is designed to support the development of self-determined Tribal strategic energy plans and energy efficiency actions through peer-to-peer learning, engagement with subject matter experts, and Tribal case studies. In particular, the cohort will focus on providing tools and resources to complete an Energy Needs and Opportunities Assessment as a key component of a strategic plan. Additionally, cohort members will have the opportunity to expand their network of Tribal colleagues working on energy issues in California, and receive direct support from ITEP and TECC staff through free one-on-one technical assistance. Both the cohort training and the associated technical assistance are free.

Cohort calls start on Thursday, January 15, 2026 and will occur every other Thursday of the month from 9:00AM - 10:30AM Pacific and continue into June.

ELIGIBILITY

The Tribal Energy Planning and Efficiency Cohort is open to all California Tribes, regardless of recognition status, as well as employees of Tribally affiliated non-profit organizations. The in-person retreat will be held in California, although the exact location is to be determined.

COURSE CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES

The cohort will consist of 4 modules, including:

• Module 1: Introduction to Strategic Energy Planning

• Module 2: Assessing Current Energy Conditions, Needs, and Opportunities

• Module 3: Developing Energy Objectives

• Module 4: Energy Efficiency

After this Cohort, participants will be able to:

• Outline steps and ways to go about strategic energy planning

• Write an assessment of current energy conditions, needs, and opportunities 

• Identify potential energy objectives

• Understand energy efficiency options

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Technical assistance can include:

• Writing portions of needs and opportunities assessment

• Presentation preparation

• Grant writing

• Identifying and networking with potential partners

• Project scoping

Click here to sign up for technical assistance

ITEP COHORT EXPECTATIONS

Click here to read the full list of cohort participant expectations

ITEP CONFIDENTIALITY POLICIES

Click here to read ITEP's Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program Confidentiality Policies

CONTACT US

If you have questions, please reach the ITEP team at Karen.Cozzetto@nau.edu, Taryn.Bell@nau.edu, Kieren.Daley-Laursen@nau.edu, or Julie.Maldonado@nau.edu.