The Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy, or TACE, has been formally established by Tribal Nations in Minnesota and has approved Michael Childs Jr., Prairie Island Tribal Council member, as TACE co-chair. A second TACE co-chair is expected to be appointed at an upcoming meeting. 

“The Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy will strengthen our 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,” said TACE Co-Chair Childs. “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.”

“The Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy is an important step in strengthening Tribal-State relations on energy issues and supporting Tribal Nations’ critical need for energy independence,” said Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, through Tribal consultation and state legislation, has provided administrative and developmental support to Tribes to establish TACE. Commerce will also provide, at Tribal request, technical assistance from Commerce’s Energy Resources Division.

The mission of TACE is committed to bringing forward recommendations for improving Tribal energy on Reservations, Adjacent Territories, and Ceded Territories through meaningful consultation, effective collaboration, partnerships, policies, and legislation. 

The idea for a Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy was put forward by Tribal Elected Leadership in Tribal consultation with the Minnesota Commerce Department in 2019. During the 2019 Tribal Leader Summit with Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, TACE was identified as a priority. In 2020, the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council passed a resolution of support for establishing TACE. In its resolution, MIAC stated, “…there are profound inequities in energy costs and choices, a disparate energy burden experienced by American Indians and the energy and weatherization assistance models alone have proven ineffective to reduce these inequities …” 

MIAC’s resolution further stated, “…the eleven Tribal Governments sharing geography with Minnesota have identified a critical need to be energy independent, provide alternative options for tribal members, reduce the energy burden of Tribal members, create a clean and energy efficient future for the generations to come…” (MIAC’s full resolution on TACE)

In 2023, in consultation with Tribal Nations, the Minnesota Commerce Department was established by the Minnesota Legislature to provide support to establish TACE. For ongoing support, Commerce is hiring a Tribal liaison to support TACE and advise Commerce on the development of a culturally responsive clean energy grants program based on the priorities identified by TACE.

TACE is comprised of a primary appointee from each Tribal Nation, as well as an alternate. Ten of the 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota have chosen to participate. TACE is not a “state established” council. It is established as a “Tribal Nations” advocacy council.