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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Towaoc Housing Solar Initiative

The Towaoc Housing Solar initiative was implemented to install net-metered solar generation systems on twenty-three Tribal buildings in Towoac, CO on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. The project was funded 80% by Department of Energy and 20% by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. The project and grant are authorized by Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council Resolution 2020-116. The systems were designed to cumulatively generate 160 direct current (DC) kilowatts on average, translating to 222,585 kilowatt hours per year. The average cost for the generation was calculated at $\$$3.34/watt with a return on investment period anticipated at 22 years for a simple payback of all costs, 11 years for the Tribe’s investment at 50% cost-share. The systems should last for 30 years. The primary goals of the project for the Tribe were identified as the reduction of electricity costs for the twenty three Tribal buildings of the Housing Authority (comprising 22 rental homes and a small apartment building with 11 units) and the reduction of carbon pollution through the transition of energy sources used in the buildings.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Micro-Hydropower and Aquatic Restoration on Lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Rural and Tribal communities in Southern Appalachia face persistent challenges in energy access owing to rugged terrain, dense forest cover, and limited infrastructure. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is a federally recognized Tribe whose ancestral homelands include much of Southern Appalachia. The Tribe’s present-day homeland, termed the Qualla Boundary, lies in the heart of the region, where the extreme ruggedness of the Blue Ridge Mountains exacerbates challenges to energy access. For the EBCI, these challenges also intersect with a deep cultural commitment to stewardship of land and water. The Tribe has explored multiple energy solutions, with hydropower serving as an existing and realized source of energy for the region’s communities. However, the EBCI’s commitment to protecting aquatic systems has led not only to a historical lack of endorsement of new conventional hydropower on Tribal lands but also to ongoing efforts to remove the area’s only existing hydropower facility at Ela Dam.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Siting and Transportation for Consolidated Used Nuclear Fuel Management Facilities: A Proposed Approach for a Regional Initiative to Begin the Dialogue - 13562

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future (BRC) was formed in January 2010 to conduct a comprehensive review of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, and to develop a new national strategy. Over two years, the BRC held dozens of meetings and heard from hundreds of Federal, State, Tribal, and local officials, as well as representatives of trade and labor organizations, technical groups, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. The Commission's final report (issued January 26, 2012) offers a strategy to resolve longstanding challenges to responsible management of the United States' nuclear waste legacy. The Commission recommended Congressional action to rewrite parts of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA); however, a comprehensive legislative overhaul will likely take years to fully implement. The nature and characteristics of nuclear waste, the activities that generated it, and the past history of federal efforts to manage the waste make it virtually certain that finding workable solutions will be controversial and difficult. As the BRC report suggests, this difficulty can be made insurmountable if top-down, federally-mandated efforts are forced upon unwilling States, Tribes, and local communities. Decades of effort and billions of ratepayer and taxpayer dollars have been spent attempting to site and operate spent fuel storage and disposal facilities in this manner. The experience thus far indicates that voluntary consent and active partnership of States, Tribes, and local governments in siting, designing, and operating such facilities are critical. Some States, Tribes, and local communities have indicated that, given adequate scientific and technical information, along with appropriate incentives, assurances, and authority, they might be willing to consider hosting facilities for consolidated storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The authors propose a new regional approach to identifying and resolving issues related to the selection of a consolidated storage site. The approach would be characterized by informed discussion and deliberation, bringing together stakeholders from government, the non-governmental (NGO) community, industry, and other sectors. Because site selection would result in regional transportation impacts, the development of the transportation system (e.g., route identification, infrastructure improvements) would be integrated into the issue-resolution process. In addition to laying out the necessary steps and associated timeline, the authors address the challenges of building public trust and confidence in the new waste management program, as well as the difficulty of reaching and sustaining broad-based consensus on a decision to host a consolidated storage facility. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Using Salmon as a Bio-indicator of the Health of the Columbia River at Hanford - 15534

Assessing human, ecological, and cultural health and well-being on- and off-site is an important aspect of managing legacy wastes and environmental remediation on U.S. Department of Energy sites. Such an assessment is especially important at places such as Hanford because the Columbia River runs through the site. The Columbia River is central to the culture and economy of the northwest, especially to the Tribes. While a full range of other bio-indicators are used to determine the health of the river with respect to contaminants, salmon are the iconic, keystone species in the Columbia River of concern to the full range of regulators, managers, Tribes, and the public. A bio-monitoring plan that will assure the public and others that the activities of DOE are not adversely impacting the salmon populations in the Columbia River is critical for long term stewardship, both of the Hanford Site and the River and its resources Numerous factors affect salmon populations, including different life stages, habitat variables, and anthropogenic effects, including hexavalent chromium. Based on a literature review of the factors affecting populations, a conceptual model was developed for effects on salmon population stability. Salmon have a life history that includes laying eggs in gravel (redds) at the river bottom and then spending several life stages in fresh water and maturing in saltwater before they return to their natal streams or rivers to breed. All of these phases are potentially vulnerable to a range of natural and anthropogenic factors. Eggs in redds in the river bottom are vulnerable to water erosion, dewatering, oxygen levels, predators, and contaminants, while juveniles (fry, parr, smolts) are vulnerable to water currents, oxygen levels, predators, contaminants, and negotiating dams. When adults return to the river up to 7 years later, they face these same factors, as well as intense fishing pressures. The major factor affecting salmon populations may well be the fight to swim upstream, around dams, to reach traditional spawning grounds. While the data provided in this study relate to salmon at Hanford, the overall conceptual framework provides a paradigm for evaluating other sensitive indicators at other Department of Energy sites. The framework provides a method to insure the Tribes and public that the health and well-being of an important economic, cultural, and aesthetic species is being adequately addressed, and suggests the types of data needed to address the issue. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2018

Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Upgrades on Nuclear Clean-up Sites: The Hanford Experience - 18641

The Hanford site, located in southeastern Washington, produced much of our nation's weapons-grade plutonium for the Defense nuclear weapons program. This production lasted the better part of four decades with production ending in 1987. Since 1987, the focus of the Hanford site has turned to clean-up activities. Mission Support Alliance (MSA) is the integrator of the multi-contractor effort to clean up the Hanford site. MSA collaborates with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and all Hanford site contractors in finding and implementing new, cost-saving, safe and practical solutions to cleanup challenges with a continual focus on innovative processes and technologies that reduce costs, energy use and bring safety improvements to the site. Support Services include environmental integration and land management; fleet and road maintenance; water/electric and utilities; cyber security and information management as well as the preservation of the site's cultural artifacts. This paper describes the process, challenges, and focus on infrastructure upgrade and energy efficiency projects in the context of a multi-contractor nuclear clean-up site. Project development and new technology deployment at Hanford has long been plagued with economic challenges. For example, despite extensive auditing, analysis, and project development, most of the energy-related projects on the Hanford site have gone unfunded due to the low cost of electricity, the relatively high cost of labor, and costs associated with detailed safety and cultural reviews. - The Hanford site is a direct-service customer of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and has a marginal electricity rate of $0.033/kWh. - Labor costs on the Hanford site track high because of the requirements associated with the safety and security necessary to operate a legacy nuclear weapons complex. - In partnership with three federally recognized and other affected Native American tribes (Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and Wanapum People), most activities on the Hanford site are afforded in-depth cultural reviews. To work within these constraints, the MSA Energy Management team has embarked on a three-pronged approach to energy project development: Program Visibility: The MSA Energy Management team has promoted both project opportunities and requirements across the Hanford site. This information comes in the form of site-wide newsletters, group meetings, e-mails, success stories, and recognition of staff. Single-point Analysis: To by-pass the inevitable duplications of effort, learning curve issues, and to improve project consistency/delivery, the MSA Energy Management team serves as the single resource to the site for energy project analysis. This resource includes initial assessment, engineering analysis, efficiency calculation and project recommendations. Contractor/utility Interface: In addition to the infrastructure under its own purview, MSA provides all support services for the contractor/utility interface. These activities include formulation and submission of incentive-based efficiency projects, project tracking, and incentive awards. All incentive awards are forwarded to the relevant contractor and then highlighted in the visibility campaign. Successful energy efficiency projects at Hanford have included high efficiency heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, interior and exterior lighting/lighting control systems, pump and motor systems, and the right-sizing of transformers and area-wide electrical distribution systems. Prior to the initiation of this program and structure (roughly 3 years ago) the average annual energy efficiency incentive applied for and received was under $10,000, with an annual energy savings of approximately 36,000 kilowatt hours (kWh). In fiscal year 2017, the annual incentive received was over $419,000, with identified energy savings of over 1.3 million kWh. Details and case studies of the major project accomplishments are included. The success of this program can be traced to an understanding of the constraints, the development of a program to address these constraints, and good communication/coordination across DOE and the multiple contractors serving the Hanford site. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2013

Next Step for STEP (Siletz Tribal Energy Program)

The Siletz Tribal Energy Program (STEP), housed in the Tribe’s Planning Department, will hire a data entry coordinator to collect, enter, analyze and store all the current and future energy efficiency and renewable energy data pertaining to administrative structures the tribe owns and operates and for homes in which tribal members live. The proposed data entry coordinator will conduct an energy options analysis in collaboration with the rest of the Siletz Tribal Energy Program and Planning Department staff. An energy options analysis will result in a thorough understanding of tribal energy resources and consumption, if energy efficiency and conservation measures being implemented are having the desired effect, analysis of tribal energy loads (current and future energy consumption), and evaluation of local and commercial energy supply options. A literature search will also be conducted. In order to educate additional tribal members about renewable energy, we will send four tribal members to be trained to install and maintain solar panels, solar hot water heaters, wind turbines and/or micro-hydro.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Heritage plaza parking lots improvement project- Solar PV installation

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI or the “Tribe”) installed a 79.95 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system to offset the energy usage costs of the Tribal Education and Family Services offices located at the Tribe's Heritage Plaza office building, 90I Tahquitz Way, Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (the "Project"). The installation of the Solar PV system was part of the larger Heritage Plaza Parking Lot Improvements Project and mounted on the two southern carport shade structures. The solar PV system will offset 99% of the approximately 115,000 kWh in electricity delivered annually by Southern California Edison (SCE) to the Tribal Education and Family Services offices at Heritage Plaza, reducing their annual energy costs from approximately $22,000 annually to approximately $200. The total cost of the proposed solar PV system is $240,000.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Strategic Energy Management Plan for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

This plan outlines the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ comprehensive energy management strategy including an assessment of current practices, a commitment to improving energy performance and reducing overall energy use, and recommended actions to achieve these goals. Vision Statement: The primary objective of the Strategic Energy Management Plan is to implement energy efficiency, energy security, conservation, education, and renewable energy projects that align with the economic goals and cultural values of the community to improve the health and welfare of the tribe. The intended outcomes of implementing the energy plan include job creation, capacity building, and reduced energy costs for tribal community members, and tribal operations. By encouraging energy independence and local power production the plan will promote self-sufficiency. Mission & Objectives: The Strategic Energy Plan will provide information and suggestions to guide tribal decision-making and provide a foundation for effective management of energy resources within the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (SYBCI) community. The objectives of developing this plan include; Assess current energy demand and costs of all tribal enterprises, offices, and facilities; Provide a baseline assessment of the SYBCI’s energy resources so that future progress can be clearly and consistently measured, and current usage better understood; Project future energy demand; Establish a system for centralized, ongoing tracking and analysis of tribal energy data that is applicable across sectors, facilities, and activities; Develop a unifying vision that is consistent with the tribe’s long-term cultural, social, environmental, and economic goals; Identify and evaluate the potential of opportunities for development of long-term, cost effective energy sources, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation, and other feasible supply- and demand-side options; and Build the SYBCI’s capacity for understanding, managing, and developing energy resources by identifying training, distribution of information materials, and community meeting needs and opportunities

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Soboba Community Energy Solar Project – Phase 1

Since time immemorial the descendants of the Soboba people are those whom have lived on and occupied the land that is presently known as the cities of San Jacinto, Hemet, Valle Vista and Winchester. On June 19, 1883, President Chester Arthur by Executive Order established the Soboba Indian Reservation, a 3,172-acre tract which included the Soboba village and the adjacent hills. The President had limited authority as he was only able to set aside public land for the establishment of a reservation and had no authority to take private land. Thus the Soboba village; cultivated lands and major springs were part of Rancho San Jacinto Viejo and belonged to Matthew Byrne. Today the Soboba Indian Reservation lies in the lower reaches of the San Jacinto Mountains, across the San Jacinto River from the city of San Jacinto. The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians was awarded a community solar grant through the U.S. Department of Energy. The incorporated cities of San Jacinto and Hemet, and the unincorporated community of Valle Vista border the Reservation. All three of these surrounding communities have experienced tremendous population growth over the past two decades, with slower growth during the recent economic downturn. The Tribal community that benefits from under this grant includes 1,161 enrolled members, the majority of which live on the reservation. Nearly 41% of the enrolled members are youth, age 18 and under. The elders and community leaders value preserving and maintaining the Luiseño and Cahuilla cultures and Tribal structure for future generations. The proposed project was administered from the Tribal Administration offices located on the reservation. The Soboba Tribal Government consists of five Tribal Members who are elected by the general membership to Tribal Council for a staggered two year term. The Chairman/Chairwoman is elected by a majority vote of the general membership but the positions for Vice-Chair, Tribal Secretary, Tribal Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms are decided by the elected council. The Soboba Tribal Administration encompasses several departments that serve the needs of the Tribe, the Reservation and the general public. They assist in day-to-day Tribal operations, public safety, Tribal family services, Native American assistance to needy families, cultural preservation, and Tribal environmental protection of natural resources, along with the monitoring of progress and needs of its Enterprises and the general public. The Tribe’s long term energy vision is to become self-sufficient and thereby attain greater control of its destiny, to control costs in view of rapidly rising electric utility expenses, and to maximize the use of renewable energy consistent with sustainable development practices. The project is a Renewable Energy System, specifically a ground mounted, fixed tilt, solar photovoltaic (PV) generating system with a rated capacity of 1.0MWac. The solar generated power serves the electric needs of the affected meters. It benefits every Tribal member since the cost of running the community Tribal facilities, including electric bills, comes out of the General Fund. The estimated 20 year project savings of $ 6,418,064 can be re-directed to other vital community needs, and the project will provide additional jobs for Tribal members. The project has been thoroughly researched and is ready to implement as soon as funding is approved.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Soboba Community Energy Solar Project - Phase 2

This is the final technical report for the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians' second community solar project. Since time immemorial the descendants of the Soboba people are those whom have lived on and occupied the land that is presently known as the cities of San Jacinto, Hemet, Valle Vista and Winchester. On June 19, 1883, President Chester Arthur by Executive Order established the Soboba Indian Reservation, a 3,172-acre tract which included the Soboba village and the adjacent hills. The President had limited authority as he was only able to set aside public land for the establishment of a reservation and had no authority to take private land. Thus the Soboba village; cultivated lands and major springs were part of Rancho San Jacinto Viejo and belonged to Matthew Byrne. Today the Soboba Indian Reservation lies in the lower reaches of the San Jacinto Mountains, across the San Jacinto River from the city of San Jacinto. The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians was awarded a community solar grant through the U.S. Department of Energy. The incorporated cities of San Jacinto and Hemet, and the unincorporated community of Valle Vista border the Reservation. All three of these surrounding communities have experienced tremendous population growth over the past two decades, with slower growth during the recent economic downturn. The Tribal community that benefits from under this grant includes 1,161 enrolled members, the majority of which live on the reservation. Nearly 41% of the enrolled members are youth, age 18 and under. The elders and community leaders value preserving and maintaining the Luiseño and Cahuilla cultures and Tribal structure for future generations. The proposed project was administered from the Tribal Administration offices located on the reservation. The Soboba Tribal Government consists of five Tribal Members who are elected by the general membership to Tribal Council for a staggered two year term. The Chairman/Chairwoman is elected by a majority vote of the general membership but the positions for Vice-Chair, Tribal Secretary, Tribal Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms are decided by the elected council. The Soboba Tribal Administration encompasses several departments that serve the needs of the Tribe, the Reservation and the general public. They assist in day-to-day Tribal operations, public safety, Tribal family services, Native American assistance to needy families, cultural preservation, and Tribal environmental protection of natural resources, along with the monitoring of progress and needs of its Enterprises and the general public. The Tribe’s long term energy vision is to become self-sufficient and thereby attain greater control of its destiny, to control costs in view of rapidly rising electric utility expenses, and to maximize the use of renewable energy consistent with sustainable development practices. The project is a Renewable Energy System, specifically a ground mounted, fixed tilt, solar photovoltaic (PV) generating system with a rated capacity of 1.0MWac. The solar generated power serves the electric needs of the affected meters. It benefits every Tribal member since the cost of running the community Tribal facilities, including electric bills, comes out of the General Fund. The estimated 20 year project savings of $ 6,418,064 can be re-directed to other vital community needs, and the project will provide additional jobs for Tribal members. The project has been thoroughly researched and is ready to implement as soon as funding is approved.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Sokaogon Chippewa Community Emission-Free and Treaty Resource Protection Clean Energy Initiative

Final Report for DOE project DE-IE0000036 The Sokaogon Chippewa Community received a tribal clean energy initiative grant and installed a community wide solar system estimated to produce 606 kw of carbon free clean energy on seventeen (17) tribal buildings and three (3) residential homes significantly reducing the tribes’ energy bills over the life of the system, potentially saving the tribe up to $2.7 million in energy savings over a thirty (30) year time span. Fifteen (15) solar installations utilized aluminum roof-top mounting systems while two (2) installations utilized a ground mount aluminum racking system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Techno-Economic Renewable Energy Potential on Tribal Lands

Renewable energy technologies provide opportunities for diversification, energy independence, environmental sustainability, and new revenue streams for Native American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. Many of these lands are in areas with that have abundant renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and biomass. This study estimates the technical and economic potential for renewable energy development on tribal lands. It aims to support tribes in decision-making as they evaluate technologies, potential scales of development, and economic viability. The resources analyzed here include wind, solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP), woody biomass, biogas, geothermal, and hydropower. The study provides updated information to a previous renewable energy technical potential analysis on tribal lands, Geospatial Analysis of Renewable Energy Technical Potential on Tribal Lands (Doris et al. 2013). It includes current information, refined data, additional locations (in Alaska, for distributed generation only), and an expanded scope expansion that includes an economic evaluation of the renewable energy potential.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Chippewa Cree Residential Solar Deployment Project

The overall project goal was to install clean energy systems in order to achieve the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s long-term goal of energy self-sufficiency, environmental protection, and better lives for our tribal members and community. This would be the first solar deployment project on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. With 50% of the funding provided by the Office of Indian Energy, the Chippewa Cree Tribe teamed up with GRID Alternatives to install six grid-tied, solar electric systems for low-income single-family homes. The systems installed were estimated to provide 4,400 kWh annually with an estimated $451 dollar savings per household. After monitoring the systems for a year, we were almost able to obtain our goal with an average of 3,971 kWh and a $419 dollar average savings per household. We would have exceeded our goal but one of the units was without power for the majority of the year bringing down the average significantly. Another major component to the grant was workforce development. GRID Alternatives supplied training for students from Stone Child College on the installation process. With the collaboration and planning efforts from all of the departments, the installations were completed in October of 2016. Throughout the report you will see the six installations are diverse, and each needs to be considered in the context of the individual family structure, size, and energy consumption habits.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

An empirical assessment of a single family‐wide hybrid capture locus set at multiple evolutionary timescales in Asteraceae

Premise Hybrid capture with high‐throughput sequencing (Hyb‐Seq) is a powerful tool for evolutionary studies. The applicability of an Asteraceae family‐specific Hyb‐Seq probe set and the outcomes of different phylogenetic analyses are investigated here. Methods Hyb‐Seq data from 112 Asteraceae samples were organized into groups at different taxonomic levels (tribe, genus, and species). For each group, data sets of non‐paralogous loci were built and proportions of parsimony informative characters estimated. The impacts of analyzing alternative data sets, removing long branches, and type of analysis on tree resolution and inferred topologies were investigated in tribe Cichorieae. Results Alignments of the Asteraceae family‐wide Hyb‐Seq locus set were parsimony informative at all taxonomic levels. Levels of resolution and topologies inferred at shallower nodes differed depending on the locus data set and the type of analysis, and were affected by the presence of long branches. Discussion The approach used to build a Hyb‐Seq locus data set influenced resolution and topologies inferred in phylogenetic analyses. Removal of long branches improved the reliability of topological inferences in maximum likelihood analyses. The Astereaceae Hyb‐Seq probe set is applicable at multiple taxonomic depths, which demonstrates that probe sets do not necessarily need to be lineage‐specific.

Jones, Katy E.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Oxygen consumption of sexually mature adult, first-feeding larval, and yearling Pacific Lampreys

Abstract Objective The Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus is considered a first food of Native American tribes, such as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Populations of this imperiled species have declined such that harvest for traditional use is limited. As a result, propagation and culture of Pacific Lampreys have been initiated to supply animals for restoration and recovery efforts. These efforts require transport and periodic holding of both adults and larvae under static (no-flow) conditions. Hence, guidelines for ensuring an adequate oxygen supply are needed for all life stages of this species. Methods We measured oxygen consumption rates of mature adults, first-feeding larvae, and yearlings under static conditions at 12–15°C. In addition, we recorded indicators of stress during hypoxia for adults and estimated routine respiration rates during and after larval feeding. Result Adults exhibited surprisingly high metabolic rates when at rest in static chambers. At 12°C, a single adult typically reduced dissolved oxygen levels in 10 L to <2 mg/L in just 90 min (oxygen consumption rates of 100–200 mg/kg/h). Adults often started to climb the walls of open chambers when dissolved oxygen levels approached 2 mg/L, allowing them to raise their branchiopores into air. Larvae remained quiescent, even when oxygen levels dropped below 1 mg/L, and costs of feeding increased routine respiration by 22–56%. Conclusion Based on these observations, we recommend that adult Pacific Lampreys always be transported in aerated containers and with access to air at the top of the tank. Although larvae exhibited hypoxia tolerance, care should be taken to ensure adequate oxygen availability, particularly during and immediately after feeding.

Moser, Mary↗
DOE OSTI2022

Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment: Preprint

Although Tribal land represents more than 5% of the solar photovoltaic technical potential in the United States, this resource is largely untapped due to a range of barriers, including complex project economics, Tribal technical and human resource capacity, project funding and financing obstacles, and regulatory challenges. To identify and better understand the regulatory barriers, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA) engaged Tribes, utilities, and regulators. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the 3-year effort seeks to address regulatory challenges or barriers that affect Tribal solar projects differently - specifically or disproportionately because they are located on Tribal lands. This paper, largely excerpted from a comprehensive (draft) guidebook released by NREL and MTERA, provides an overview of 13 key regulatory barriers identified through this research, as well as potential short- and long-term solutions. In addition, the paper points to potential pathways for addressing key barriers through case studies highlighting successful Tribal solar projects along with considerations for stakeholders working with Tribes. These resources can support stakeholders in creating meaningful relationships and pursuing workable solar projects.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

A transcriptome-SNP-derived linkage map of Apios americana (potato bean) provides insights about genome re-organization and synteny conservation in the phaseoloid legumes

Apios ( Apios americana ; “apios”), a tuberous perennial legume in the Phaseoleae tribe, was widely used as a food by Native Americans. Work in the last 40 years has led to several improved breeding lines. Aspects of the pollination biology (complex floral structure and tripping mechanism) have made controlled crosses difficult, and the previous reports indicated that the plant is likely primarily an outcrosser. We used a pseudo-testcross strategy to construct a genetic map specific to the maternal parent. The map was built using single-nucleotide polymorphism markers identified by comparing the expressed sequences of individuals in the mapping population against a de novo maternal reference transcriptome assembly. The apios map consists of 11 linkage groups and 1121 recombinationally distinct loci, covering ~ 938.6 cM. By sequencing the transcriptomes of all potential pollen parents, we were able to identify the probable pollen donors and to discover new aspects of the pollination biology in apios. No selfing was observed, but multiple pollen parents were seen within individual pods. Comparisons with genome sequences in other species in the Phaseoleae showed extended synteny for most apios linkage groups. This synteny supports the robustness of the map, and also sheds light on the history of the Phaseoleae, as apios is relatively early diverging in this tribe. We detected a translocation event that separates apios and two Vigna species from Phaseolus vulgaris and Glycine max. This apios mapping work provides a general protocol for sequencing-based construction of high-density linkage maps in outcrossing species with heterogeneous pollen parents.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

“Teamwork Makes the Dream Work”: Tribal Competition Evolutionary Search as a Surrogate for Free-Energy-Based Structural Predictions

Crystal structure prediction has been a grand challenge in material science owing to the large configurational space that one must explore. Evolutionary (genetic) algorithms coupled with first principles calculations are commonly used in crystal structure prediction to sample the ground and metastable states of materials based on configurational energies. However, crystal structure predictions at finite temperature (T), pressure (P), and composition (X) require a free-energy-based search that is often computationally expensive and tedious. Here in this paper, we introduce a new machine-learning workflow for structure prediction that is based on a concept inspired by the evolution of human tribes in primitive society. Our tribal genetic algorithm (GA) combines configurational sampling with evolutionary optimization to accurately predict entropically stabilized phases at finite (T, P, X), at a computational cost that is an order of magnitude smaller than that required for a free-energy-based search. In a departure from standard GA techniques, the populations of individuals are divided into multiple tribes based on a bond-order fingerprint, and genetic operations are modified to ensure that cluster configurations are sampled adequately to capture entropic contributions. Team competition introduced into the evolutionary process allows winning teams (representing a better set of individuals) to expand their sizes; this translates into a more expanded search of the phase space allowing us to explore solutions near possible global minimum. Each team explores a specific section of the structural phase space and avoids bias on solutions arising from the use of individual populations in a purely energy-based search. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by performing the structural prediction of a representative two-dimensional two-body system as well as Lennard-Jones clusters over a range of temperatures up to its melting point. Our approach outperforms the standard GA approaches and enables structural search under “real nonambient conditions” on both bulk systems and finite-sized clusters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗