Five Native American tribes in the Southwest will receive more than half a million dollars in federal grants to invest in energy.
That money will go primarily to renewable energy projects. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was in Phoenix to make the announcement.
She also announced the approval of the nation’s second utility scale solar energy project to be built on tribal land. That project will be on the Moapa River Indian reservation in southern Nevada.
Jewell adds the grants will give tribes greater control of their energy resources.
"They will enable tribes to negotiate the best agreements with partners and investors to develop and manage the resources for the social and economic benefits for their communities," she said.
A total of nine tribes were selected from among 31 applications nationwide.
