Drivers, barriers and policy options to renewable energy development in Native American communities: A systematic review

Abstract

This paper reviews the existing literature on the adoption of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in reference to energy transition justice for Native American communities. Based on 31 journal articles published between 2003 and 2024, we identify twelve drivers categorized into four themes (technical, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural) and thirteen barriers classified into five themes (technical, environmental, policy, economic, and socio-cultural) to RETs development in Native American communities. We find that the socio-cultural theme is more prevalent than other themes across literature, showing that the socio-cultural dynamics are deeply rooted in the broader identity, history, and governance structures of Native American communities. Our study also finds that, among available RETs, wind energy is studied the most, followed by solar, biofuel, geothermal, and hydropower. Notably, topics on other renewables, such as hydrogen or ocean/tidal energy development in Native American communities, were the least studied. We highlight the need for additional research on all types of RETs based on energy needs, energy source preferences, and existing endowments of Native American communities. We argue that the additional research on these topics will also help foster resilient energy systems and energy sovereignty in Native American communities. Our findings further the scholarship regarding the drivers and barriers to RETs adoption, and develop strategies that Native Nations, RETs developers, and researchers can employ to ensure a just energy transition and sustainable development for Native American communities.