As many as 50,000 Indigenous homes across the United States and Canada would receive solar power and battery storage under an ambitious fundraising initiative from Native-led nonprofit Indigenized Energy and international advocacy organization Global Citizen.
The partners are seeking $2.5 billion through philanthropic contributions and impact investments to finance energy systems, workforce training and local technical capacity, according to a Nov. 12 announcement. They did not specify how much financing has been secured.
Initial projects are expected to begin in 2027, supported by ongoing fundraising and investment efforts.
Organizers said renewable energy initiatives have become more urgent with the advent of climate change and intensive energy requirements for emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence.
“As AI drives electricity demand and global energy uncertainty puts more pressure on costs, investments in community-owned solar and battery storage become even more valuable,” Indigenized Energy CEO Cody Two Bears said in a statement.
The partnership pairs Indigenized Energy’s work developing renewable energy projects with tribal nations with Global Citizen’s international advocacy platform to attract donors and investors.
“This landmark initiative brings attention to an urgent need for reliable, affordable energy here at home,” Global Citizen co-founder Michael Sheldrick said in a statement.
Founded in 2017 following the NoDAPL movement, Indigenized Energy works with tribal nations to secure project funding, build local capacity and train workers to sustain renewable energy systems.
