The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, a tribe in Lake County, California, has begun construction on a $3 million solar project that would be the tribe's own utility system.
The tribe sees the project as serving several goals at once: producing power, reducing electric costs, helping critical operations stay online, and increasing local energy independence.
Here's what to know
Construction is underway on a 696-kilowatt solar installation, which will supply the tribe's casino as well as its event and evacuation center, according to Tribal Business News. Plans call for six parking-canopy solar arrays behind those buildings.
The development is the first tribal clean energy effort to receive financing through the California Energy Commission's Energy Conservation Assistance Act loan program after tribes were allowed to participate.
"This really is the step of building out our Tribal Utility Authority," Chairman Jose "Moke" Simon III told Tribal Business News. "It is the foundation for a system that will eventually give our tribal members the feeling of security and constant supply from our own organization."
More background
The tribe's evacuation center has functioned as an emergency shelter since the 2015 Valley Fire in Middletown, Tribal Business News reported. A sturdier local power setup could help preserve heating, cooling, refrigeration, lighting, and communications when emergencies occur.
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According to the commission, the solar installation should reduce electricity consumption by almost 990,000 kilowatt-hours in its first year.
What's being done?
California changed its rules in 2021 to allow Native American tribes to access Energy Conservation Assistance Act loans, a program that, according to Tribal Business News, had historically been used by schools and public agencies.
Middletown Rancheria is the first tribal project to reach construction under that expanded eligibility.
California Energy Commission Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister addressed the change in a statement to Tribal Business News: "California remains committed to working with tribes to advance energy sovereignty, lower energy costs, and strengthen community resilience."
The community can operate the system for a year before payments begin, giving energy savings time to start offsetting costs. The tribe is also contributing in-kind labor and, according to Tribal Business News, using value engineering to keep the project on budget.
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