The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 11 tribal communities to receive nearly $6 million to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies on tribal lands.
The projects are designed to provide Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages with clean energy options to reduce fossil fuel use and save money. The DOE's funding is expected to be augmented by nearly $7.5 million in cost share by the selected tribes.
Solar installations are featured prominently among the selected projects, including the following:
- The Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin will install 695 kW of solar on nine of the tribe's government facilities;
- The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, Calif., will install a 76.9 kW solar photovoltaic system to offset the energy usage costs of the administrative offices;
- The Bishop Paiute Tribe of Bishop, Calif., will deploy at least 58 kW of grid-tied rooftop solar PV systems on 22 single-family low-income homes on the reservation;
- The Pala Band of Mission Indians in Pala, Calif., will install a 94 kW solar PV system at its fire station;
- The Santo Domingo Tribe of Santo Domingo Pueblo, N.M., will install a 115 kW ground-mounted PV system to power the tribe's community water pump and treatment facility;
- The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians in San Jacinto, Calif., will install a 1 MW ground-mounted solar PV system;
- The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of Fort Yates, N.D., will install 636 kW of solar PV at five Sitting Bull College buildings;
- The Tonto Apache Tribe of Payson, Ariz., will install 172 kW of solar PV and solar water heating systems in its gymnasium, waste water treatment facility, waste water holding tank and the tribe's market; and
- The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California based in Gardnerville, Nev., will install 161 kW of solar PV in the communities of Carson, Stewart and Dresslerville.
‘By harnessing America's clean energy on tribal lands, tribes across the country can cut energy bills, spur economic development and advance energy solutions in their local communities,’ says Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency.
For a list of the requested funds by project, see the DOE's Tribal Energy Program website, here.
