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The federal government has awarded two Wisconsin tribes more than $2.6 million in grants to help develop local energy resources.

The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Forest County Potawatomi Community are among 12 tribal governments that will share more than $16 million in energy security and resilience grants from the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy.

The goal of the grants is to “provide autonomous operation for increased community resilience,” according to the Energy Department. Altogether, the projects will affect more than 900 buildings and are expected to generate about $7.5 million a year in energy savings.

“The selected projects are consistent with the principles of tribal sovereignty and self-determination, with a fuel- and technology-neutral energy strategy that recognizes the breadth of energy resources on tribal lands, and each tribe’s right to use them as they see fit,” Office of Indian Energy Director Kevin R. Frost said in a statement.

With matching funds from the tribes, the grants are expected to support more than $5 million worth of projects in Wisconsin and $39 million nationwide.