- Federal Update: TEA Signed onto Tribal Advocacy Letter in Response to GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill and Phase Out of Investment Tax Credits
- Ongoing Monitoring of Idaho Public Utility Commission – Docket IPC-E-25-15 – Idaho Power Export Credit Rate for non-legacy on-site generation customers
- Attendance of 2025 Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) Meeting – Bend, Oregon
- Minnesota Public Utility Commission (MNPUC) Comment Submissions in Support of Tribal Consultation in the Matter of a Complaint Filed by Upper Sioux Indian Community
- Nevada Policy Wins: TEA Signed onto Letter in Support of Appropriation to Nevada Clean Energy Fund SB132
- Policy Director Spoke at the Tribal Energy Evolution Summit (TEES) hosted by ATCE on Tribal-State Policy Relations in the State of Minnesota
Idaho Power Utilities Commission Public Hearing
Docket: IPC-E-25-15 https://puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7526
Date: June 2025
Summary
In part of our ongoing effort to remain local and attend in-person regulatory events, Qwiy attended the Idaho PUC public hearing on Idaho Power’s application for Export Credit Rate (ECR) for non-legacy on-site generation customers on May 20, 2025.
The proposed changes would adjust compensation rates for excess energy exported to the grid by customers with solar or other distributed generation systems.
Our team will continue to advocate to ensure Idaho Power’s proposed changes do not undermine Tribal energy sovereignty or equitable access.
What Idaho Power Is Seeking
- Approval of new ECR values for the period June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
- Rate adjustments vary by season and time of day, with lower compensation during off-peak and non-summer periods.
- Updates to schedules 6, 8, and 84, affecting residential, small business, and large-scale users with on-site generation.
Potential Impacts
- Families: Lower export rates may reduce the financial return on rooftop solar investments, especially for low-to moderate-income households.
- Businesses: Small and large businesses with solar systems could see longer payback periods, potentially discouraging new installations.
- Tribes: Tribal communities pursuing energy sovereignty through distributed generation may face economic and policy barriers if export compensation is not equitable or aligned with Tribal energy goals.
Photo by Qwiy Cawston, Policy Specialist, May 2025, Boise Idaho – Idaho Public Utility Commission Public Hearing
2025 Q2 Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) Meeting
Bend, Oregon
Date: June 2025
Summary
In May, Qwiy Cawston, TEA’s Tribal Policy Specialist, attended the 2025 Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) meeting in Bend, Oregon which provided a critical opportunity to strengthen our commitment to Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and sustainable economic development across Indian Country. This gathering of sovereign Tribal governments created a space for strategic networking, policy collaboration, and capacity building among nations with shared challenges and aspirations.
Through dialogue with Tribal leaders and policy champions, we deepened our understanding of each nation’s priorities – from jurisdictional advocacy and land restoration to clean energy and workforce development.
Participation also supports the ongoing alignment of our policy strategies with broader Tribal initiatives, enhancing our ability to serve as advocates in federal, state, and intertribal forums. The exchange of insight, frameworks, and shared resources positions us to uplift collective impact while advancing practical solutions tailored to the unique needs of the large Tribal Nations.
Photo by Qwiy Cawston, Policy Specialist, June 2025, Bend Oregon – Coalition of Large Tribes Meeting