Bipartisan bill wants to expand tribal energy access

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Indian tribes in Oklahoma and others across the U.S. would have greater tribal access to federal energy programs under a bill filed by U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and John Curtis (R-Utah).

They filed the Tribal Energy Fairness Act which seeks to address barriers and streamline technical processes in existing Department of Energy (DOE) programs, according to an announcement by the two Senators.

Schatz said the bill will provide tribes with flexibility needed to access existing federal programs. Curtis said it would also remove complex bureaucracy and steep initial costs as chief barriers to tribal energy development.

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