The Tribal Energy Consortium is a coalition of Native American tribes that partners with private companies and nonprofits that focuses on expanding Native American tribal energy interests, especially through developing natural gas, oil, coal, and hydrogen energy infrastructure. ^{1 2}

The organization’s annual revenue in 2022 and 2023 was below $50,000, however in January 2025 it received a $50 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy; as of February 2025, this award was reportedly being further investigated by the Trump administration, according to the Washington Examiner. ^{3 4}

Background

The Tribal Energy Consortium is a coalition of Native American tribes that works with private and nonprofit groups to develop tribal energy infrastructure. ¹

The organization has ties to other tribal groups via its principal officer, Roger Fragua. Fragua is a co-founder and executive director of the Flower Hill Institute and the president of Cota Holdings LLC. The Flower Hill Institute is a nonprofit claiming to focus on agriculture and economic self-sufficiency in tribal communities. Cota Holdings is a consulting firm specializing in areas including economic and energy development. ^{5 6 7}

Previously Fragua was also the president of an organization called NDN Energy LLC, which is now apparently defunct. ^{1 8}

The Flower Hill Institute contracted Cota Holdings in 2022 and 2023, according to IRS tax documents. There is personnel overlap among the groups, including the Flower Hill Institute co-founder and executive director Roger Fragua, board chair Leslie Elgood, and board member Atherton Phleger. In a 2022 audit of the Flower Hill Institute’s tax returns, a third-party auditor found that the group had “material weakness in internal controls,” partly related to the group’s methods for vetting independent contractors, according to the Washington Examiner. ^{9 6 7 10 4}

In 2023, Roger Fragua received over $400,000 in compensation from the Flower Hill Institute, and Leslie Elgood received $200,000. Both individuals reported working an average of 10 hours a week for the group and have volunteer status in these roles, according to explanations by the group provided on its IRS tax return. Thus, all compensation came from “contracted services rendered under specific service agreements and is not related to their duties as board members or executive director.” ^{11 12}

Cota Holdings, the Tribal Energy Consortium, and the Flower Hill Institute share an address for communications. ^{13 14 15}

In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $50 million to the Tribal Energy Consortium. The Flower Hill Institute has received over $10 million federal funding in 2022 and 2023 combined, and Cota Holdings has received $3 million. ^{16 17 4}

Activities

The Tribal Energy Consortium claims it seeks to promote the development of Native American tribal energy capacity through developing the use of natural gas, oils, coal, and hydrogen as well as weather-dependent energy and biofuel. ²

The group is also involved with procuring internships and experience for Native American youth and advancing tribal energy interests through partnerships with other energy focused nonprofits and private sector organizations. ²

Government Funding

The Tribal Energy Consortium’s reported revenue was below $50,000 in both 2022 and 2023. ⁵

The U.S. Department of Energy issued a $50 million grant to the Tribal Energy Consortium in January 2025; the funds were part of a program of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. As of February 2025, the grant was reportedly being investigated by the Trump administration before disbursement, according to the Washington Examiner. ⁴

The Tribal Energy Consortium also claims to be partially funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. ^{18 19}

People

Roger Fragua is the principal officer of the Tribal Energy Consortium. Fragua is also a co-founder and executive director of the Flower Hill Institute and the president of Cota Holdings. Previously, Fragua was the president of a seemingly defunct group named NDN Energy, which shares its name with the Tribal Energy Consortium’s internet domain name. ^{4 1}

1. “Home: Tribal Energy Consortium.” Tribal Energy Consor. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.ndnenergy.org.
2. “Priorities: Tribal Energy Consortium.” Tribal Energy Consor. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.ndnenergy.org/priorities.
3. ^[1] “Tribal Energy Consortium,” Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990 N) (e-postcard) 2022 and 2023.
4. Kaminsky, Gabe. “Biden Awarded $50m to Self-Dealing Activist – Washington Examiner.” Washington Examiner – Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, February 14, 2025. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3311236/in-final-days-biden-awarded-50-million-to-self-dealing-charity-leader/
5. “Tribal Energy Consortium,” Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990 N) (e-postcard) 2022 and 2023.
6. “Team.” Cota Holdings LLC. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://cota.holdings/partners.
7. “Who We Are.” Flower Hill Institute. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://flowerhill.institute/who-we-are.
8. “Roger Fragua.” Center of the American West. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.colorado.edu/center/west/roger-fragua.
9. “Flower Hill Institute,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022, 2023. Schedule L.
10. “Board of Directors.” Flower Hill Institute. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://flowerhill.institute/board-of-directors.
11.  “Flower Hill Institute,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule J.
12. “Flower Hill Institute,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Schedule O.
13. “Contact.” Flower Hill Institute. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://flowerhill.institute/contact.
14. “Contact.” Cota Holdings LLC. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://cota.holdings/contact.
15. “Tribal Energy Consortium,” Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990 N) (e-postcard) 2023.
16. “COTA HOLDINGS.” USAspending.gov. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient/d5865c1f-958d-d1e7-8ffb-917c59214c51-R/all.
17. “FLOWER HILL INSTITUTE.” USAspending.gov. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient/25afe4e9-4213-c9da-11a4-f943cd0d2744-R/all.
18. “Resources: Tribal Energy Consortium.” Tribal Energy Consor. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.ndnenergy.org/resources.
19. U.S. Economic Development Administration. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.eda.gov/.