2020 GRID tribal solar grantees include two first-time Alaska Native groups

Now in its third year, TSAF has selected its grantees for the 2020-2021 grant cycle, expanding its project map to Alaska, with two Alaska Native grantees included in the grant cycle. The 2020-2021 TSAF grantees are:

• Oglala Sioux Tribal Housing, Pine Ridge, S. Dakota
• Village of Solomon, Nome, AK
• Tanana Chiefs Conference – Tanacross Village Council, Tanacross, AK
• AK Blackfeet Nation – Heart Butte High School, Browning, MT
• Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, Loleta, CA
• Pinoleville Pomo Nation, Ukiah, CA
• Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Redwood Valley, CA
• Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Willits, CA
• Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Boulevard, CA
• Campo Band of Mission Indians, Campo, CA
• Cahuilla Band of Indians, Anza, CA
• Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Thermal, CA

“The ability to develop and regulate renewable energy is an expression of sovereignty and selfdetermination,” said Tanksi Clairmont (Lakota), Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund Director. “Our vision for Indian Country is a transition to energy sovereignty that is educational, entrepreneurial, and completely renewable.”

“These projects will help improve resiliency and housing affordability in tribal communities, and provide hands-on training opportunities for tribal members interested in clean-economy jobs,” said Ramsay Huntley, Sustainable Finance Strategist at Wells Fargo. ”Wells Fargo is pleased to support the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund and its mission to advance energy sovereignty in Indian Country.”

TSAF leveraged matching funds available through the U.S. Department of Energy Indian Energy grants program to increase the energy and environmental impact of the grant funds, and will staff and manage the projects throughout 2021. Funding for new tribal facilities and residential solar energy projects will help advance tribal energy security and resilience and provide solar workforce development opportunities for tribal members.

The 2020 TSAF grant cycle was by invitation only due to overwhelming interest in previous years.

Since its launch in 2018, TSAF funding has supported the solar-ready projects of 27 tribes and tribal organizations in seven states, totaling 1.7 MW of renewable energy for Tribal Nations. That solar capacity translates into over $10 million in lifetime energy savings and workforce development opportunities for nearly 200 tribal members.

News item from GRID Alternatives

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/10/2020-grid-tribal-solar-grantees-include-two-first-time-alaska-native-groups/