TRIBAL ENERGY PROGRAM

PEER REVIEW

REPORT

![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.81875in" height="1.81875in"}

March 2006

TRIBAL ENERGY PROGRAM

PEER REVIEW REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

## 

## Executive Summary i

##  

I. Peer Review Plan 1

II\. Tribal Energy Program Overview 4

III\. Evaluation Criteria and Panel Ratings 6

IV\. Key Panel Discussion Points Regarding Criteria 8

-   Appropriateness of the Program Scope and Objectives 8

> Relative to Available Resources

-   Effectiveness in Meeting the Stated Goals 10

> Within Available Resources

# Adequacy of Reaching the Intended Audience 11 

-   Quality of the Competitive Process 13

## Attachment 1 - Peer Review Panel Biographies

Attachment 2 -- Presentation Material

##  

**Executive Summary**

On February 28-March 1, 2006, the Tribal Energy Program Peer Review was
held in Golden, CO. The Peer Review was conducted by the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) for the purpose of: 1) improving decision-making and
program leadership; 2) improving productivity and management; 3)
enabling stakeholders to learn about the Program and projects; and 4)
providing accountability for the use of public funds.

[Tribal Energy Team (DOE, NREL, and SNL)]{.underline}

Thom Sacco, DOE HQ, led the Peer Review with the assistance of Lizana
Pierce, DOE Golden Field Office (GO). Roger Taylor, National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Sandra Begay-Campbell, Sandia National
Laboratories (SNL), presented the role of the laboratories in the
program. Victoria DeHerrera, GO support service employee, assisted in
recording the proceedings and Deborah Tewa, SNL contract employee,
presented on her previous experience with NativeSun.

[Peer Review Panel]{.underline}

The panel members included the following: 1) Randy Akers, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Native American
Programs; 2) Faline Haven, U.S. Department of Interior, Division of
Energy and Mineral Development; 3) Gary Collins, Mni Sose Water Rights
Coalition; 4) Timothy Brown, University of Colorado, Center for the
American West; and 5) Randy Manion, U.S. Department of Energy, Western
Area Power Administration.

[Peer Review Scope]{.underline}

The scope of the peer review was limited to activities since 2002 with
emphasis on activities since the previous peer review (February 2004).
The program team presented the program scope, organization and budget,
the competitive solicitation process, resulting projects, long-term
goals and accomplishments. A copy of the presentation material is
included as Attachment 3. The panel was encouraged to ask questions,
provide verbal feedback and document their individual observations
relative to the review criteria. The panel met as a group, without
program representatives, and developed consensus comments and ratings
for each of the four criteria summarized below. Prior to concluding the
review, the peer review panel presented the results of their
discussions.

[Program Overview]{.underline}

The Tribal Energy Program (TEP), under the Department of Energy\'s (DOE)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, promotes tribal energy
sufficiency and fosters economic development and employment on America's
tribal lands through financial and technical assistance to tribes. The
program offers financial and technical assistance for renewable energy
feasibility studies and shares the cost of developing renewable energy
projects on tribal lands. The program also offers assistance to tribes
to take the initial steps toward developing renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects, including strategic planning, energy options
analysis, human capacity building and organizational development.

Over the last four years, a total of 76 tribal energy projects,
representing a DOE investment of \$12.4 million dollars, were
competitively selected and funded through DOE's Tribal Energy Program.
Even though not required, the Tribes leveraged DOE funds by cost sharing
\$3.3 million (21%). A total of 205 applications have been received
since 2002, representing 160 different tribes. TEP has funded 88% of the
86 applications considered meritorious and recommended for funded. Of
available funds, 88% has been awarded directly to tribes to pursue their
projects.

These projects represent tribes across the U.S. and Alaska interested in
exploring and developing their wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, and
geothermal resources. The feasibility studies are intended to
demonstrate the potential for sustainable renewable energy development
on tribal lands. The development projects result from previously
conducted feasibility assessments, and are intended to result in
hardware installations or lead to commercial projects. The first steps
projects are designed to assist tribes in developing long-term strategic
energy plans, evaluating energy options, building human capacity,
increasing community awareness, and developing organizations to manage
renewable energy projects. Additional information on the program and
each of the tribal energy projects is available at
[www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy](http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy).

DOE's Tribal Energy Program also provides technical assistance to funded
projects, and information and education. Education and training efforts
have included providing internships to 2 to 3 Native American students
annually; participation in national tribal energy conferences and
regional workshops; development and expansion of the program website;
development and distribution of the TEP program brochure; creation of an
extension email database for information dissemination; and creation of
an electronic "Guide to Tribal Energy Development."

Through funding from the DOE, the tribes have: 1) completed fourteen
feasibility studies of their renewable energy resources, four of which
are proceeding toward development; 2) six tribal nations have developed
long-term strategic energy plans, with three proceeding toward
quantifying their renewable energy resources; and 3) Citizen Potawatomi
Nation, upon completing a strategic energy plan, is proceeding toward
geothermal heat pump installations to re-use previous loss heat. After
assessing their resources, two tribes are proceeding toward development
of 60 MW of wind farms.

Prior tribal energy project successes have included: 1) installation of
the first utility-scale (750 kW) wind turbine on the Rosebud Sioux
Reservation; 2) installation of an substation at the Colville Indian
Power and Veneer plant in Washington state, thereby reducing line losses
and saving between \$160,000 and \$260,000 per year; and 3) installation
of a 66 kW wind turbine on the Fort Berthhold Reservation in North
Dakota.

[Peer Review Results]{.underline}

  ------------------------------------------------ ----------------------
  Criteria Factor                                  Rating

  Appropriateness of the Program Scope and         Good
  Objectives Relative to Available Resources       

  Effectiveness in Meeting the Stated Goals Within Good
  Available Resources                              

  Adequacy of Reaching the Intended Audience       Superior

  Quality of the Competitive Process               Good
  ------------------------------------------------ ----------------------

The following reflects key comments of the Peer Review Panel:

-   TEP is responsive to tribal energy needs as a component of their
    self-determination.

-   Program facilitates capacity building for the successful execution
    of the project, and fosters spirit of ownership on the part of
    tribes.

-   Program has an effective process for setting priorities.

-   Program scope and objectives are appropriate; however, funding and
    staffing resources need to be increased in order to fund more
    meritorious applications and technical assistance.

-   TEP has an impressive ten-point list of strategic planning goals.

-   Each goal is supported by strategies and success indicators.

-   TEP has a strong tribal focus, acknowledging and honoring the
    government-to-government relationship between the tribes and the
    federal government.

-   There is some uncertainly that some program goals may not be met
    given funding levels.

-   TEP is one of the best managed federal programs observed by this
    panel. It is readily evident that the program works extremely hard
    and efficiently to accomplish their goals. It is not an easy task
    given their constraints and highly diversified constituency.

-   DOE, NREL, and Sandia tribal program staff is very committed to
    Indian Country energy development due to the individuals working in
    this group.

-   TEP successfully educates tribal members, provides a clearinghouse
    of information relevant to the tribes, assures visible success of
    tribal energy projects, and provides curriculum development in
    renewable energy in tribal colleges.

-   TEP's internship program is a highly effective means of engaging
    young tribal members, helping to build their professional skills and
    careers.

-   The competitive process is flexible, thorough, effective, and
    transparent.

-   Congressional earmarks for unsuccessful applications undermine
    competitive integrity of process.

-   TEP should receive additional funding to ensure that all worthy
    proposals receive support.

The Committee unanimously offered their expertise as a on-going resource
to the program

I. Tribal Energy Program Peer Review Plan

# 

# **[Peer Review]{.underline}**

# A critical, formal and documented evaluation process using objective criteria and qualified and independent reviewers to make a judgment of the technical, scientific and business merit, the actual or anticipated results, and the productivity and management effectiveness of programs and/or projects.

# **[Purpose]{.underline}** 

The primary purpose is to provide information that assists program
managers and staff to improve program performance.

# **[Goal]{.underline}**

The goal of the peer review is to: 1) improve decision-making and
program leadership; 2) improve productivity and management; 3) allow
stakeholders to learn about the Program and projects; and 4) provide
public accountability for the use of public funds.

# **TRIBAL ENERGY PROGRAM**

[Purpose]{.underline}

The Tribal Energy Program under the Department of Energy\'s (DOE) Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy promotes tribal energy
sufficiency and fosters economic development and employment on America's
tribal lands through financial and technical assistance to tribes.

The program offers financial and technical assistance for renewable
energy feasibility studies and shares the cost of renewable energy
projects on tribal lands. The program also offers assistance to tribes
for the initial steps toward developing renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects, including strategic planning, energy options
analysis, human capacity building and organizational development
planning.

**[Background]{.underline}**

Title XXVI (\"Indian Energy Resources\") of the Energy Policy Act of
1992 authorized the Secretary of Energy to establish and implement a
demonstration program to assist Indian tribes in pursuing energy
self-sufficiency and to promote the development of energy industries on
tribal lands. In support of this act, DOE issued the Indian Energy
Resources solicitation, and in 1994-1995, awarded 35 grants to tribes
across the nation for development of renewable energy projects.

In 1994, President Clinton met with tribal leaders and signed a
Presidential Memorandum that reaffirmed the federal government\'s
commitment to operate within a government-to-government relationship
with federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The
president also signed the Tribal Colleges and Universities Executive
Order (Executive Order 13021) to expand federal assistance for Indian
institutions of higher education, promote tribal sovereignty and
individual achievement, and advance the national education goals and
federal policy in Indian education.

In 1999, under the authority of EPAct, DOE competitively awarded and
funded eight projects for field validating the use of renewable power
systems on reservations or other tribally owned lands. These Remote
Applications of Renewable Power Technologies projects represent the use
of solar and wind resources for producing power on tribal lands across
the nation. Each of these projects has had as an active participant, a
federally recognized Indian tribe or Alaskan Native corporation, on
whose reservation or tribally owned lands the systems are located. As a
result, tribes have installed solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar
hot water heating systems and wind turbines, and are demonstrating the
potential for job creation, market penetration of renewable power
technology, replicability, and economic and environmental benefits to
the participating tribe(s) or tribal members.

Under DOE's "Renewable Energy Development on Tribal Lands" Funding
Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOE solicits applications from
Federally-recognized tribes or Alaskan Native Corporations to either: 1)
conduct feasibility studies for the development of economically
sustainable renewable energy installations on tribal lands; or 2)
implement sustainable renewable energy development projects.

To promote renewable energy development on tribal lands and tribal
energy sufficiency, DOE competitively awarded and funded feasibility
studies and shared the cost of renewable energy installations. In
FY2002, a total of fourteen (14) projects, including twelve (12)
feasibility studies and two development projects, were awarded in 2002.
Eight (8) additional feasibility projects selected through the FY2002
solicitation were funded in FY2003. Also in FY2003 seven (7) projects,
including four feasibility studies and three development projects, were
awarded. In FY2004, seven additional feasibility study grants
competitively selected under the FY2003 solicitation were awarded. As a
result of the FOA issued late in FY2004, a total of eight (8) projects
were selected for funding in FY2005 with an additional thirteen (13)
selected for funding in FY2006, subject to funding availability.

The feasibility studies are intended to demonstrate the potential
sustainability of renewable energy development on tribal lands,
including the potential economic and environmental benefits to the
tribe. The development projects are the result of previously conducted
feasibility assessment and are intended to demonstrate the potential for
job creation, market penetration locally or for export, replicability,
and the environmental and economic benefits to the tribe.

In FY2003, DOE issued \"First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy
and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands\" and sought applications for: 1)
strategic energy planning; 2) energy options analysis; 3) energy
organization development; and 4) human capacity building. As a result,
nine (9) tribes were awarded funds for these initial steps toward
development in FY2003 and an additional seven (7) funded with FY2004
funds. In FY2005, a total of sixteen (16) projects were selected with
ten (10) planned for funding in FY2005. The remaining six (6) projects
are planned to be funded in FY2006 if funding is available.

In support of Executive Order 13021, DOE issued a solicitation in fiscal
year 2000 for Renewable Energy Development at Tribal Colleges and
Universities. The solicitation resulted in seven awards to tribal
colleges and universities to conduct feasibility studies. The
feasibility studies were to demonstrate the viability of installing
renewable energy technologies on tribal college and university sites and
integrating renewable energy courses into educational programs and
science curricula. Through a competitive process, one tribal college was
awarded subsequent funding to install renewable energy hardware and
integrate renewable energy into the curricula.

The U.S. Department of Energy American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal
Government Policy sets forth principles to be followed by DOE to ensure
an effective implementation of a government-to-government relationship
with American Indians and Alaska Native tribal governments. Through the
authorities set forth in EPAct and the executive orders, DOE is seeking
to support energy self-sufficiency on tribal lands and support the trust
responsibility set forth in DOE\'s American Indian and Alaska Native
Tribal Government Policy. The U.S. DOE American Indian and Alaska Native
Tribal Government Policy can be obtained at
<http://web.em.doe.gov/public/tribal/policy2.html>. Additional
information on the Program and each project is available at
[www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy](http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy).

PEER REVIEW MEETING

[Scope]{.underline}

The scope of the peer review will be limited to program activities since
FY2002 with emphasis on accomplishments since the last peer review in
2004.

[Peer Review Meeting]{.underline}

The Peer Review meeting will be held on February 28-March 1, 2006 at
1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado in Conference Room 15/151.
Participants in the review will include the DOE program and project
management, independent reviewers, and representatives from the DOE
National Laboratories. An agenda for the Peer Review meeting is
attached.

[Peer Review Panel Members]{.underline}

The Peer Review Panel (Panel) will consist of a panel of independent
external reviewers with expertise in renewable energy, education or
Native American culture.

Tentative reviewers include: 1) Randy Akers, Northern Plains Office of
Native American Programs; 2) Dave Castillo, Inter-tribal Council of
Arizona; 3) Jack Stevens, Department of Interior; 4) Gary Collins, Mni
Sose Water Rights Coalition; 5) John Waconda, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Southwest Regional Office; 6) Patricia Limerick, University of Colorado;
7) Derrick Watchman, Private Industry; 8) Randy Manion, Western Area
Power Authority; and 9) Winona LaDuke, Author and Founding Director,
White Earth Land Recovery Project.

[Criteria]{.underline}

The Peer Review is intended to address: 1) the appropriateness of the
Program scope and objectives relative to available resources; 2)
effectiveness in meeting stated goals within available resources; 3)
adequacy of reaching the intended audience; and 4) quality of the
competitive process. Additionally, the panel will be requested to
provide recommendations for future activities and ways in which the
Program can be improved.

[Materials]{.underline}

Review materials will be provided to the Peer Review Panel members will
consist of the following:

1)  Peer Review Plan;

2)  Tribal Energy Program Annual Operating Plan;

3)  Tribal Energy Program Roadmap;

4)  2004 Peer Review Report; and

5)  Review presentation material.

Additional informational materials to be provided include:

1)  Tribal Energy Brochure;

2)  Solar Way magazine; and

3)  Tribal Energy Guide Flyer.

[Panel Review]{.underline}

During the meeting, the peer review panel will be requested to:

1)  Independently rate the program and document observations and
    recommendations; and

2)  Participate in developing a consensus rating and comments.

[Peer Review Panel Meeting]{.underline}

Panel discussion and feedback will be requested during the meeting and
written comments and a consensus qualitative rating for each criterion
will be requested at the conclusion of the meeting. Panel discussions
will be documented and included in the Peer Review Report.

[Peer Review Reporting]{.underline}

Panel proceedings and review documentation will be consolidated and
included in the Peer Review Report. The report will be issued,
approximately 40 days following the Peer Review meeting, and posted on
the Tribal Energy Program Website.

[Rating]{.underline}

During the meeting, the panel will be asked to document strengths and
weaknesses, and rate the Program on the established criterion. The
following rating scale will be used to obtain a measure of performance
of the Program.

1 Superior: The Program effectively achieved all stated goals and
objectives. There were no practical ways identified to improve the
Program.

2 Good: The Program comprehensively addressed the stated goals and
objectives with minor areas identified for improvement.

3 Satisfactory: The Program adequately met the stated goals and
objectives with some areas identified for improvement.

4 Marginal: The Program minimally addressed the goals and objectives and
contained major areas in need of improvement.

5 Unsatisfactory: The Program failed to meet the stated goals and
objectives and had significant areas of weaknesses requiring
improvements.

**II. Tribal Energy Program Overview**

[Purpose]{.underline}

The Tribal Energy Program under the Department of Energy\'s (DOE) Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy promotes tribal energy
self-sufficiency and fosters economic development and employment on
America's tribal lands through financial and technical assistance to
tribes.

The program offers financial and technical assistance for renewable
energy feasibility studies and shares the cost of renewable energy
projects on tribal lands. The program also offers assistance to tribes
for the initial steps toward developing renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects, including strategic planning, energy options
analysis, human capacity building and organizational development
planning.

**[Background]{.underline}**

Title XXVI (\"Indian Energy Resources\") of the Energy Policy Act of
1992 authorized the Secretary of Energy to establish and implement a
demonstration program to assist Indian tribes in pursuing energy
self-sufficiency and to promote the development of energy industries on
tribal lands. In support of this act, DOE issued the Indian Energy
Resources solicitation, and in 1994-1995, awarded 35 grants to tribes
across the nation for development of renewable energy projects.

In 1999, under the authority of EPAct, DOE competitively awarded and
funded eight projects for field validating the use of renewable power
systems on reservations or other tribally owned lands. These Remote
Applications of Renewable Power Technologies projects represent the use
of solar and wind resources for producing power on tribal lands across
the nation. Each of these projects has as an active participant, a
federally recognized Indian tribe or Alaskan Native corporation, on
whose reservation or tribally owned lands the systems are located. As a
result, tribes have installed solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar
hot water heating systems and wind turbines, and are demonstrating the
potential for job creation, market penetration of renewable power
technology, replicability, and economic and environmental benefits to
the participating tribe(s) or tribal members.

In 1994, President Clinton met with tribal leaders and signed a
Presidential Memorandum that reaffirmed the federal government\'s
commitment to operate within a government-to-government relationship
with federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. In
1996, the president signed an Executive Order on Sacred Sites (Executive
Order 13007) directing federal agencies to accommodate access to, and
ceremonial use of, Indian sacred sites by Indian religious
practitioners. The president also signed the Tribal Colleges and
Universities Executive Order (Executive Order 13021) to expand federal
assistance for Indian institutions of higher education, promote tribal
sovereignty and individual achievement, and advance the national
education goals and federal policy in Indian education.

In support of Executive Order 13021, DOE issued a solicitation in fiscal
year 2000 for Renewable Energy Development at Tribal Colleges and
Universities. The solicitation resulted in seven awards to tribal
colleges and universities to conduct feasibility studies. The
feasibility studies were to demonstrate the viability of installing
renewable energy technologies on tribal college and university sites and
integrating renewable energy courses into educational programs and
science curricula. Through a competitive process, one tribal college was
awarded subsequent funding to install renewable energy hardware and
integrate renewable energy into the curricula.

The U.S. Department of Energy American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal
Government Policy sets forth principles to be followed by DOE to ensure
an effective implementation of a government-to-government relationship
with American Indians and Alaska Native tribal governments. Through the
authorities set forth in EPAct and the executive orders, DOE is seeking
to support energy self-sufficiency on tribal lands and support the trust
responsibility set forth in DOE\'s American Indian and Alaska Native
Tribal Government Policy. The U.S. DOE American Indian and Alaska Native
Tribal Government Policy can be obtained at
<http://web.em.doe.gov/public/tribal/policy2.html>.

**[Tribal Energy Projects]{.underline}**

To promote renewable energy development on tribal lands and tribal
energy self-sufficiency, DOE competitively awarded and funded
feasibility studies and shared the cost of renewable energy
installations. In 2002, DOE funded 14 FY 2002 Renewable Energy
Development Projects including 12 feasibility studies and two
development projects. In FY2003, an additional 8 feasibility studies
selected under the FY2002 solicitation were awarded. In 2003, DOE issued
another solicitation that resulted in funding for seven projects, three
development projects and four feasibility studies.

These geographically diverse projects represent tribes across the U.S.
and Alaska interested in exploring their renewable energy options
through use of wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, and geothermal
resources. The feasibility studies are intended to demonstrate the
potential sustainability of renewable energy development on tribal
lands, including the potential economic and environmental benefits to
the tribe. The development projects are the result of previously
conducted feasibility assessments and are intended to demonstrate the
potential for job creation, market penetration locally or for export,
replicability, and the environmental and economic benefits to the tribe.

To assist tribes in developing long-term strategic energy plans,
evaluating energy options, building human capacity for sustaining energy
projects, community awareness, and developing organizations to manage
renewable energy projects, DOE issued a solicitation, entitled First
Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Tribal
Lands. Nine Tribes in six States are taking the initial steps towards
becoming energy self-sufficient through long-term energy planning,
energy organization development, and capacity building.

Additional information on the Program and each project is available at
[**www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy**](http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy).

**III. Evaluation Criteria and Panel Ratings**

Below are the consensus review ratings and comments for each of the
criterion.

+--------------------------------------------------------+-------------+
| #####  Description                                     | **Rating**  |
+--------------------------------------------------------+-------------+
| **Criterion 1: Appropriateness of the Program Scope    | 2 (Good)    |
| and Objectives Relative to Available Resources**       |             |
+--------------------------------------------------------+-------------+
| Strengths:                                             |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   TEP wisely asks if the limited funds are           |             |
|     appropriately allocated to early stage studies.    |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   TEP is responsive to tribal energy needs as a      |             |
|     component of their self-determination.             |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   TEP establishes appropriate measures of success,   |             |
|     although other measures may be needed for future   |             |
|     evaluations.                                       |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   TEP is proactive in consulting with other agencies |             |
|     and stakeholders, and revising its objectives      |             |
|     appropriately.                                     |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   Program facilitates capacity building for the      |             |
|     successful execution of the project, and fosters   |             |
|     spirit of ownership on the part of tribes.         |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   Program scope and objectives have remained         |             |
|     constant through vacillations in national energy   |             |
|     policy. This consistency has allowed the tribes to |             |
|     be a recognized component of national energy       |             |
|     policy, as exemplified in Title V.                 |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   Program scope and objectives allow enough          |             |
|     flexibility to expand or decrease annual program   |             |
|     activities to match available resources from year  |             |
|     to year.                                           |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   Program has an effective process for setting       |             |
|     priorities.                                        |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   Program uses a broad network of partners that      |             |
|     support the scope and objectives.                  |             |
|                                                        |             |
| Weaknesses:                                            |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   Program scope and objectives are appropriate;      |             |
|     however, funding and staffing resources need to be |             |
|     increased in order to fund more meritorious        |             |
|     applications and technical assistance.             |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   There are no evident weaknesses that cannot be     |             |
|     tied directly back to limitations in               |             |
|     appropriations, and diversion of funds to          |             |
|     earmarks.                                          |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   While it is reasonable that TEP fund "first step"  |             |
|     and feasibility studies, TEP needs to ensure that  |             |
|     these studies are well positioned to access        |             |
|     funding for subsequent project phases.             |             |
|                                                        |             |
| Comments:                                              |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   TEP will have to decide how to allocate its        |             |
|     limited resources, especially between renewable    |             |
|     energy and energy efficiency.                      |             |
|                                                        |             |
| -   DOE's "first steps" planning program for           |             |
|     developing renewable energy and energy efficiency  |             |
|     is a very important missing link for tribal energy |             |
|     and economic development.                          |             |
+--------------------------------------------------------+-------------+

+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| #####  Description                                       | *         |
|                                                          | *Rating** |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| **Criterion 2: Effectiveness in Meeting the Stated Goals | 2 (Good)  |
| Within Available Resources**                             |           |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| Strengths:                                               |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP has an impressive ten-point list of strategic    |           |
|     planning goals.                                      |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Each goal is supported by strategies and success     |           |
|     indicators.                                          |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Although the goals are significant, the program      |           |
|     appears to be on track to meeting most of the goals. |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP is making a good use of technology in            |           |
|     communicating with tribes and conducting other       |           |
|     administrative activities such as facilitating the   |           |
|     application review process.                          |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP has a strong tribal focus. It acknowledges and   |           |
|     honors the government-to-government relationship     |           |
|     between the tribes and the federal government.       |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP has outstanding facilitation and collaboration   |           |
|     with federal and state agencies, and tribal          |           |
|     organizations, for example, in training and          |           |
|     conferences, to maximize limited federal funds to    |           |
|     meet its stated goals.                               |           |
|                                                          |           |
| Weaknesses:                                              |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   There is some uncertainty that some program goals    |           |
|     may not be met given funding levels.                 |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Program goals need to be reviewed or revised         |           |
|     according to funding levels and as tribes' capacity  |           |
|     and goals evolve.                                    |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   The goal of achieving 1 GW of renewable energy       |           |
|     capacity by 2012 may be too ambitious and perhaps    |           |
|     needs reevaluation.                                  |           |
|                                                          |           |
| Comments:                                                |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP is one of the best managed federal programs      |           |
|     observed by this panel. It is readily evident that   |           |
|     the program works extremely hard and efficiently to  |           |
|     accomplish their goals. It is not an easy task given |           |
|     their constraints and highly diversified             |           |
|     constituency.                                        |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   DOE, NREL, and Sandia tribal program staff is very   |           |
|     committed to Indian Country energy development due   |           |
|     to the individuals working in this group.            |           |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+

+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| #####  Description                                       | *         |
|                                                          | *Rating** |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| **Criterion 3: Adequacy of Reaching the Intended         | 1         |
| Audience**                                               | (         |
|                                                          | Superior) |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| Strengths:                                               |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP communication through emails and program website |           |
|     is outstanding.                                      |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP communications tend to proliferate, signifying   |           |
|     their relevance to the Indian Country.               |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP communications reach all sectors the tribe, from |           |
|     the leadership to staff, creating interest in the    |           |
|     program.                                             |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP communications also reach non-Indian private and |           |
|     governmental organizations, informing their policies |           |
|     and programs.                                        |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP successfully educates tribal members, provides a |           |
|     clearinghouse of information relevant to the tribes, |           |
|     assures visible success of tribal energy projects,   |           |
|     and provides curriculum development in renewable     |           |
|     energy in tribal colleges.                           |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP is present at diverse conferences and training,  |           |
|     greatly enhancing their outreach.                    |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP effectively reaches out in a culturally          |           |
|     sensitive manner to tribes.                          |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP's internship program is a highly effective means |           |
|     of engaging young tribal members, helping to build   |           |
|     their professional skills and careers.               |           |
|                                                          |           |
| Weaknesses:                                              |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP staff is overextended.                           |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP could coordinate more with Power Marketing       |           |
|     Administrations (PMAs), American Public Power        |           |
|     Association (APPA), National Rural Electric          |           |
|     Cooperative Association (NRECA) in order to exchange |           |
|     ideas and create opportunities. Such organizations   |           |
|     might be invited to tribal workshops. Such workshops |           |
|     need more commercial, utility participation to       |           |
|     facilitate the negotiation of power agreements and   |           |
|     contracts now that tribes are increasingly producing |           |
|     electricity.                                         |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP could establish a "help desk" to field calls and |           |
|     free other staff to work more effectively.           |           |
|                                                          |           |
| Comments:                                                |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Effective energy programs based on reservations      |           |
|     enhance a sense of homeland development as           |           |
|     recognized in treaty rights.                         |           |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+

+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| #####  Description                                       | *         |
|                                                          | *Rating** |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| **Criterion 4: Quality of the Competitive Process**      | ##        |
|                                                          |  2 (Good) |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| Strengths:                                               |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Process is flexible, thorough, effective, and        |           |
|     transparent.                                         |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Process makes good use of NREL, Sandia and tribal    |           |
|     reviewers. Reviewers are well qualified and have     |           |
|     expertise in energy technologies, business, or       |           |
|     tribal government.                                   |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP has apparently made a smooth transition from     |           |
|     paper to e-grants.                                   |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Process has clear pre-developed criteria, ranking    |           |
|     and evaluation guidelines.                           |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Solicitations are broadly announced through          |           |
|     electronic means.                                    |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Application evaluation is highly competitive,        |           |
|     relatively complex, but without apparent bias.       |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Competition prompts tribes to submit high quality    |           |
|     applications as evidenced by those 84% of proposals  |           |
|     that pass initial screening.                         |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Competitive process builds tribal technical and      |           |
|     social capacity.                                     |           |
|                                                          |           |
| Weaknesses:                                              |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Congressional earmarks for unsuccessful applications |           |
|     undermine competitive integrity of process.          |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Limited program funding cannot award some worthy     |           |
|     proposals.                                           |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Reliance on electronic documents may disadvantage    |           |
|     some tribes without adequate internet access.        |           |
|                                                          |           |
| Comments:                                                |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   TEP should receive additional funding to ensure that |           |
|     all worthy proposals receive support.                |           |
|                                                          |           |
| -   Review process: Panel felt that presentations from   |           |
|     applicants, perhaps both successful and              |           |
|     unsuccessful, would give a useful perspective.       |           |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+

Attachment 1

Peer Review Panel Biographies

Randy Akers, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Randy presently serves as the Administrator for the HUD Northern Plains
Office of Native American Programs (NPONAP). The NPONAP provides a wide
range of housing and community development assistance to 32 Federally
recognized tribal governments in a seven state region, comprised of
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and
Nebraska. Prior to taking his current position, for 21 years Randy was
Associate Field Counsel for the San Francisco and Phoenix HUD ONAPs,
serving as the principal point of legal contact for HUD programs
delivered to 172 tribes located in the western United States. During
1997, Randy was part of the OGC team providing legal support to the
NAHASDA negotiated rulemaking committee. In 1999, he participated in the
One Stop Mortgage Center Initiative, a federal-tribal partnership to
reform mortgage lending in Indian Country.

**Tribal Affiliation** - Randy is an enrolled member of the Comanche
Nation of Oklahoma.

Faline Haven, U.S. Department of Interior

Faline Haven is the Renewable Energy Specialist for the Office of Indian
Energy Resources Development, division of Energy and Mineral
Development. This section has nation wide responsibility for renewable
energy development on Tribal Trust Lands. Ms. Haven and the Natural
Resources Group currently oversee 50 plus renewable energy projects.

Ms. Haven previously was the Forest Manager and Natural Resources
director for the Annette Islands Reserve Natural Resources Department,
Metlakatla Indian Community, Metlakatla, Alaska.

Ms. Haven has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington,
College of Forest Resources in forest Resources Management and Wildlife
Biology. Ms. Haven is an enrolled tribal member of the Metlakatla Indian
Community and a descendant of the Tlingit Tribe of Sitka and the Crow
Nation

Gary Collins, Mni Sose Water Rights Coalition

Gary Collins is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe
residing on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. He was the
Tribal Water Engineer for eight years for the Shoshone and Arapaho
Tribes and administers the Tribal Water Code with direction of the
12-member Wind River Water Resources Control Board. Mr. Collins has been
involved with the "Big Horn Water Rights Case" for the last 20 years in
various capacities, including holding the position of Chairman of the
Northern Arapaho Tribe when the case was before the U.S. Supreme Court
in 1989. He was the President of the Mni Sose Intertribal Water Rights
Coalition for six years, 1999-2005. Mni Sose supports many Tribes on the
Missouri Basin Watershed regarding the ESA, Master Manual and Annual
Operating Plan of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Gary has been substantially involved in the establishment of the
Indigenous Waters Network (IWN) as a member of the IWN steering
committee. Extensive discussions with Tribes, Tribal Entities, River
Network, EPA, steering committee members and others has been successful
in creating a national presence of "WATER" issues from the Native
American perspective. IWN is poised to continue by addressing Tribal
Elders, Youth and Tribes.

His experience has been associated with major U.S. companies including
Mobil, Gulf, Getty, Mitchell Energy, and the University of Texas.
Exploration and evaluation of various minerals throughout the United
States, including Alaska, occurred during his tenure with the private
sector. This experience has enabled Mr. Collins to be well versed with
mineral, energy, and water development for Indian interests.

Since 1984, Gary has been employed by the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes as
a "team" player in the protection and development of the Tribes' natural
resources, including water. The Tribes were awarded over 500,000
acre-feet of water from the "Big Horn Water Case." Presently,
development and administration issues are before the Tribes for future
planning purposes. Extensive discussions with the State of Wyoming
officials, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau
of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency, and local irrigation
districts have been occurring. The tribal perspective is not always
recognized with respect to traditional cultural and aesthetic values.

Gary has been involved with various negotiations that are being held to
recognize the Tribes' positions as major entities within the Wind River
Basin, one of the headwater drainages for the Missouri River Basin.
Significantly, the Tribal Water Code is the foundation for implementing
the direction for the future of Tribal Water Rights.

He is also instrumental with his family ranching operation, which has
been operating since the early part of the last century. The operation
utilizes irrigation and water development techniques from the
grass-roots level.

Mr. Collins received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the
University of Wyoming.

Timothy Brown, University of Colorado, Center for the American West

Timothy Brown holds a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University. Dr.
Brown was a university lecturer until joining the Center of the American
West, University of Colorado, in 2005 as a research associate. He is
currently working on the issue of energy efficiency in the American West
in collaboration with the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP).
Dr. Brown also works on a wide range of public policy issues affecting
the American West such as abandoned mines, wildfire, immigration, and
the management of federal lands.

Randy Manion, Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)

From January 1997 to present, Randy Manion has managed Western Area
Power Administration\'s (Western) Renewable Resource Program. Primary
responsibilities include promoting renewable energy technologies to 680
utilities across Western's 15-state service area. Manion brings 26 years
experience in renewable energy and demand-side management to this
position. He holds a B.A. in Public Administration; is a Certified
Energy Manager (CEM) with the Association of Energy Engineers, and has
actively held positions on several boards and advisory committees,
including the Sustainable Building Industry Council in Washington, DC;
the Electric Power Research Institute; and the American Public Power
Association. Prior to Western, Manion designed and managed the Imperial
Irrigation District\'s (IID) first conservation and renewable energy
program. Prior to IID, Manion worked as an energy consultant in the
Pacific Northwest for Energy Counselors Inc., managing energy auditing
projects for the Oregon Department of Energy, Bonneville Power
Administration, and Grays Harbor Public Utility District, among others.

Attachment 2

Presentation Material