As Minnesota transitions to a clean energy future, modernizing and upgrading the state’s energy transmission infrastructure is crucial for a more efficient electric grid. However, transmission planning must prioritize careful collaboration with neighboring communities.
Because planned energy infrastructure often crosses Tribal lands, cooperation with Tribal entities is essential. One advocate is paving the way for these critical changes by championing Tribal Nations’ renewable energy options.
Tribal lands in Minnesota make up 2% of the state's land portfolio, or 0.7 million acres. Facilitating transmission system development requires proper consultation between the state and the state’s Tribal Nations. Historically, communication and collaboration between these two parties has been sparse, according to Robert (Bob) Blake, Tribal citizen of the Red Lake Nation, owner of the solar installation company Solar Bear, and executive director of Native Sun Community Power Development.
Recognizing the challenge, Bob began working to support an effort to engineer a council that could combat historical challenges faced by Tribal Nations.
Minnesota’s Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy (TACE), established during the 2023 legislative session, creates a conduit between the 11 federally recognized Tribes in the state and the Department of Commerce. This state-funded council acts as a liaison among public, state, and private interests to ensure fair dealings with Tribal Nations across Minnesota.
“My hope for this council is that eventually there is an opportunity for Tribes to create their own Tribal utility authorities, similar to electric co-ops,” said Bob. “From this, I envision the creation of a Tribal utilities commission that will be able to interact with the Public Utilities Commission and facilitate more collaboration.”
While Tribes operate under federal jurisdiction, they are not subject to state jurisdiction. Bob said that, consequently, opportunities to collaborate are often missed because there is not a liaison between the state government and Tribes.
“Tribes can offer a lot to democracy,” said Bob. “Native people are the only people with their own government in this government. How we allow Tribes to be more participatory and leverage that sovereignty for the good of this nation is important. In regard to the energy transition, if we aren’t giving Tribes the opportunity and chance to collaborate, they will never reach their potential.”
Bob cited an example involving the Red Lake Nation, an Ojibwe Tribe in northern Minnesota. When Minnesota Power, an electric service provider, planned the Great Northern Transmission Line, they negotiated with Red Lake Nation to route the line through their ceded territory. Red Lake Nation agreed, but they wanted the opportunity to interconnect their own energy projects to the transmission line.
According to Bob, Red Lake Nation missed out on fully leveraging the potential benefits of the transmission line and could have worked out a better deal. He observes that their experience is not an isolated instance, which drives his effort to enhance access to opportunities and resources for Tribal Nations so they can fully capitalize on renewable energy's potential. Luckily, TACE will be equipped to help with this.
The mission of TACE is to bring forward recommendations for improving Tribal energy on Reservations, adjacent territories, and ceded territories through meaningful consultation, effective collaboration, partnerships, policies, and legislation.
In December 2024, the Minnesota Department of Commerce announced that Michael Childs, Jr., Prairie Island Tribal Council member, will serve as TACE co-chair. A second TACE co-chair is expected to be appointed at an upcoming meeting.
In a recent press release, Michael said TACE will strengthen Tribal communities’ efforts to build energy sovereignty.
“Our Tribal communities are coming together to find collective strength in our relations with the State of Minnesota, to work as allies who recognize the need for a just transition to clean energy, and to create a legacy of energy independence,” Michael said. “The Tribes are already creating clean energy jobs, reducing our energy costs, and enhancing our quality of life. Our advocacy is not simply about the power of clean energy. It is about sovereignty, self-determination, resilience, and long-term well-being.”
TACE comprises a primary appointee from each Tribal Nation, as well as an alternate. Ten of the 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota have chosen to participate. For ongoing support, Commerce is hiring a Tribal liaison to support TACE and advise the state agency on the development of a culturally responsive clean energy grants program based on priorities identified by TACE.
