Agenda and Presentations
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy, in coordination with the National Conference of State Legislatures, hosted the 2019 NTES Tribal Energy: Powering Self-Determination, Sept. 24-26, at the Westin Washington D.C. City Center, 1400 M Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Tribal leaders—together with the representatives from federal agencies, state governments, private industry, utilities, and academia—spent two and a half days focusing on tribal self-determination in Indian Country. Attendees exchanged ideas, explored new cross-cutting technology and cost-effective solutions to national energy issues.
Highlights of the program included: Learning Labs, short sessions centered around the key energy topics and the Tribal Leader Roundtables discussions that focused on renewable energy projects. For additional highlight see this blog, "2019 National Tribal Energy Summit Connects Tribes with Solutions Toward Energy Sovereignty" from the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Program, U.S. DOE.
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019
Opening program: Emerging Relations with Indian Country and the Gig Economy
Welcome:
- Master of Ceremonies Gary “Litefoot” Davis, executive director, Native American Financial Services Association
- Posting of the Colors: Native American Women Warriors; Song: Mark Tayac, Piscataway Indian Nation
- Invocation: Ray C. Frost, tribal elder, Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Opening Remarks:
- Secretary of Energy Rick Perry – Video Remarks
- Kevin R. Frost, director, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
High-Level Remarks:
- James Campos, director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. DOE | No Presentation
- John Lushetsky, senior adviser, Loan Programs Office, U.S. DOE | No Presentation
- Chad Rupe, administrator for Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture | No Presentation
- Charlie Smith, director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. DOE | No Presentation
Keynote Speaker:
- Maranda S. Compton, partner, Van Ness Feldman, LLP | Presentation
LISTEN TO THE TUESDAY PLENARY
Learning Labs: Round One | a, b & c
1a | U.S. DOE Loan Program Office (LPO): Loan Guarantee Program
- Doug Schultz, director of loan guarantee origination, LPO, U.S. DOE | Presentation
1b | U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy: Coal FIRST
- John Litynski, deputy director, Advanced Fossil Technology Systems | No Presentation
- Bhima Sastri, division director, Crosscutting R&D and Integrated Systems | No Presentation
- Mark Ackiewicz, division director, Emissions Control and CCUS R&D | No Presentation
1c | Native Youth and Energy Technology – Involving Younger Generations
Learning Labs: Round Two | a & b
2a | Project Overview: Hughes Village, Alaska – Remote Community Energy Advancement
- Dave Messier, rural energy coordinator, Tanana Chiefs Conference | Presentation
2b | Project Overview: Renewable Energy Training in Energy Storage
- Sonny Adams, director of energy, NANA Regional Corporation | Presentation
- Brian Hirsch, founder and president, DeerStone Consulting | Presentation
Listening Session
U.S. DOE Office of Economic Impact and Diversity – Equity in Energy
James Campos, director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity | No Presentation
Tribal Leader Roundtables | 1 & 2
1 | State-Tribal Advancements on Energy in the Lower-48
- Jim Reed and Kristy Hartman, policy directors, National Conference of State Legislatures | No Presentation
- Mark Fox, chairman, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation | No Presentation
- Jason Ramos, councilmember, Blue Lake Rancheria | No Presentation
2 | Alaska-Specific Energy Issues
- Lizana Pierce, deployment supervisor, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. DOE | Presentation
- Givey Kochanowski, program manager, Alaska, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. DOE | No Presentation
- Keolani Booth and Gavin Hudson, councilmembers, Metlakatla Indian Community | No Presentation | Video: Metlakatla Indian Community Keeps the Lights on and Replenishes Resources
- Ronald K. David, councilmember, Native Village of Kongiganak | Presentation | Video: Kongiganak - An Energy Success Story
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019
Celebration of Women in Energy (Breakfast)
Welcome and Introductions:
- Master of Ceremonies Gary “Litefoot” Davis, executive director, Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA)
- Invocation: Bernadette Cuthair, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
- Remarks: Kevin R. Frost, director, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. DOE
Keynote Speakers:
- Jennifer “Jenni” Lichter, deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council | No Presentation
- Michelle Holiday, founder and president, Michelle Holiday and Associates | Presentation
- U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) | Presentation
Legislative Update: Panel on Policy in Indian Country with Audience Q&A
- Mark Planning, deputy assistant secretary, Office for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. DOE | No Presentation
- Jacob Schellinger, vice president of Government Relations, National Congress of American Indians | No Presentation
- Mike Andrews, majority staff director and chief counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs | No Presentation
- Jennifer Romero Monaco, minority staff director and chief counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs | No Presentation
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Remarks
- Jack Stevens, deputy director, and Stephen Manydeeds, division chief, Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) | Presentation
VIEW THE WEDNESDAY PLENARY
Lunch and Arm Chair Discussion: Next Era on Self-Determination (50-years After Nixon)
- Paul Moorehead, principal, Indian Tribal Governments Group, Powers Pyles Sutter and Verville | No Presentation
- Carla Fredericks, associate clinical professor and director, American Indian Law Clinic and Program, University of Colorado | No Presentation
- Reid Chambers, partner, SONOSKY, LLP | No Presentation
- Roger White Owl, Jr., chief executive officer, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation | No Presentation
Dance Performance: Native American Women Warriors; Song: Marc Tayac, Piscataway Indian Nation
Learning Labs: Round One | a, b and c
1a | Electrification and Deployment of Broadband – Strengthening Rural Economies
- Chad Parker, assistant administrator, Telecommunication Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development | Presentation
- Chris McLean, assistant administrator, Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service, USDA Rural Development | Presentation
- Tedd Buelow, Native American coordinator, USDA Rural Development | Presentation
1b | Cybersecurity and Emergency Preparedness/Response
- Karen S. Evans, assistant secretary, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER), U.S. DOE | No Presentation
- Paul Brubaker, deputy assistant secretary, CESER | No Presentation
- Ken Buell, director, Emergency Response, CESER | No Presentation
- Kate Marks, acting director, Preparedness & Exercises, CESER | No Presentation
1c | Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) – Tribal Energy Opportunities
- Stephen Manydeeds, division chief, DEMD, U.S. DOI | Presentation
- Jennifer Reimann, branch chief (Acting), Branch of Renewable and Distributed Generation, U.S. DOI | Presentation
- Winter Jojola-Talburt, Electrical Engineer, DEMD, U.S. DOI | Presentation
Successfully Navigating the Office of Indian Energy’s Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
- Sonny Adams, Jr., director of energy, NANA Regional Corporation | No Presentation
- Dave Messier, rural energy coordinator, Tanana Chiefs Conference | No Presentation
Learning Labs: Round Two | a, b & c
2a | Project Overview: Seneca Nation – Wind and Solar Development
- Anthony Giacobbe, general manager, Seneca Energy, LLC, Seneca Nation | Presentation
- Wes Jackson, project manager, Seneca Energy, LLC, Seneca Nation | Presentation
- Tony Memmo, project manager, Seneca Energy, LLC, Seneca Nation | Presentation
2b | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development: Programs to Help Finance Tribal Energy
- Stephanie Holderfield, chief of staff, Rural Business and Cooperative Service, USDA Rural Development | Presentation
- Chris McLean, assistant administrator, Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service, USDA Rural Development | Presentation
- Venus Welch-White, energy programs specialist, Rural Business and Cooperative Service, USDA Rural Development | No Presentation
- Alton Kimura, community facilities specialist, Rural Housing Service, USDA Rural Development | No Presentation
- Tedd Buelow, National Native American coordinator, USDA Rural Development | Presentation
2c | K-12 STEM Education – Preparing Tribal Youth for the Future
- Melinda Higgins, tribal STEM advisor, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. DOE | Presentation
- Mark Ericson and Hanna-Marie Lucero, STEM Program, Santa Fe Indian School | Presentation
Learning Labs: Round Three | a, b & c
3a | Project Overview: Blue Lake Rancheria – Microgrid Technology Development
- Jana Ganion, Sustainability and Government Affairs director, Blue Lake Rancheria | Presentation
3b | Selling Electricity and Forming Power Purchase Agreements
- Leonard Gold, general manager, and John Lewis, chairman, Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority (GRICUA), Gila River Indian Community | No Presentation
3c | Effecting Systemic Change in the Hiring Patterns of Alaska Natives in Science and Engineering
- Michael Bourdukofsky, chief operations officer, Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) | Presentation
Tribal Leader Roundtable
U.S. Department of the Interior (DEMD) – Planning Your Energy Development Project
- Stephen Manydeeds, division chief, DEMD, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) | Presentation
- Jennifer Reimann, branch chief (Acting), Branch of Renewable and Distributed Generation, U.S. DOI | Presentation
- Winter Jojola-Talburt, electrical engineer, DEMD, U.S. DOI | Presentation
NTES Networking Reception
- Welcome and Introductions
- Master of Ceremonies Gary “Litefoot” Davis, executive director, Native American Financial Services Association
- Invocation and Remarks: Luke Duncan, chairman, Ute Tribal Business Committee, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation
- Remarks: Director Kevin R. Frost, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Learning Labs: 1 – 4
1 | U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI): Indian Energy Service Center (IESC)
- Carla H. Clark, IESC acting director, Bureau of Indian Affairs | Presentation
- Johnna Blackhair, deputy director, Office of Trust Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs | Presentation
2 | Transmission and Infrastructure Improvements in Indian Country
- Patricia Hoffman, principal deputy assistant secretary, Office of Electricity, U.S. DOE
- Dionne E. Thompson, senior vice president and assistant administrator for Corporate Liaison, Western Area Power Administration | Presentation
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretarial-Level Remarks
- Keynote Speaker: Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes
3 | Removing Regulatory Impediments to Economic Development in Indian Country
- Johnna Blackhair, deputy director, Office of Trust Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs | No Presentation
- Darryl Lacounte, director, Bureau of Indian Affairs | No Presentation
4 | U.S. DOE Office of Indian Energy: Technical Assistance, Capacity Building and Funding
- Lizana Pierce, deployment supervisor, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. DOE | Presentation
Closing Session
- Invocation: Luke Duncan, chairman, Ute Tribal Business Committee, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation
- Closing Remarks: Master of Ceremonies Gary “Litefoot” Davis, executive director, NAFSA
- Kevin R. Frost, director, Office of Indian Energy, U.S. DOE
- Retiring of the Colors: Native American Women Warriors