# Could This New Approach Unlock Gigawatts Of Native American Solar Energy Potential?

Published 2019-06-24 · Updated 2026-03-19 · Energy on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/energy/could-this-new-approach-unlock-gigawatts-of-native-american-solar-energy-potential

> Native American lands across the lower 48 states are home to an estimated 17.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy potential – a staggering amount considering total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2018 was 4.2 TWh. Funding for solar projects on tribal lands has largely come from government sources, but rarely covers full project costs, and poor management has hindered development….

Native American lands across the lower 48 states are home to [an estimated](https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/48078.pdf) 17.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy potential – a staggering amount considering total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation [in 2018](https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3) was 4.2 TWh.

Funding for solar projects on tribal lands has largely come from government sources, but rarely covers full project costs, and poor management [has hindered development](https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-502). As of 2000, 14.2% of all Native American households [have no access to electricity](https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/48078.pdf) – more than ten times the national average.

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