Bishop Paiute Tribe – 2018 Project

NOTE: Project pages are being updated regularly to reflect changes, if any; however, some of the information may be dated.

Summary

Bishop Paiute Tribe will install at least 108 kilowatts (kW) of new solar photovoltaics (PV) on approximately 38 existing owner-occupied, single-family homes for low-income families. This adds to the 118 solar electric systems, totaling over 404 kW of PV, already installed on residences on the Reservation. It is estimated that the additional solar will produce at least 175,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, replacing 30%–75% of the approximately 38 homes’ total electricity use of 228,700 kWh per year, for a combined system lifetime electricity cost savings for low-income homeowners.

The 875-acre Bishop Paiute Reservation was established in 1936 and has a population of 1,651. The Tribe is dedicated to improving energy efficiency and implementing renewable energy, and this commitment is part of the Tribe’s strategic plan. This dedication is a reflection of the Tribe’s commitment to self-sufficiency and protection of the environment. The Tribe plans to work with its electricity provider to increase the energy efficiency of tribal department buildings and community centers to save at least 40% of propane and electricity use and costs. The Tribe also has a goal to incorporate solar electric systems on its 490 residential and governmental/departmental buildings and well pumps, and install solar carports where technically feasible, once funding is secured.

For the past 9 years, 118 solar electric systems, totaling over 404 kW of clean renewable energy, have been installed on residences on the Reservation. With grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy in 2015 and 2016 the Tribe was able to install 56 of those systems, and with additional funding in 2017 the Tribe was able to provide solar jobs training to tribal members. The systems displace 30% to 75% or more of each home’s electricity use while enabling low-income families save money on their electricity bills, helping them make ends meet. This project will continue this successful model as well as provide solar employment opportunities to tribal and community members. 

The Tribe’s self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship will be advanced through the deployment of 108 kW alternating current (AC) of clean renewable energy, which will provide an estimated $1 million in system lifetime electricity cost savings to the approximately 38 low-income homeowners on the Reservation. In addition, the 108 kW AC of clean renewable energy installed will reduce greenhouse gases by about 2,040 tons, equivalent to planting approximately 47,470 trees. The installed 108 kW AC will produce at least 175,000 kWh/year, displacing at least 30%–75% of the approximately 38 homes’ total electricity. The Reservation and surrounding communities will also benefit from improved air quality resulting from reduced wood stove use for heating.

Tribal job trainees will gain a minimum of 384 hours of solar installation work that will boost their résumés, facilitate connections with individuals in the industry, and make them more marketable as future hires. All trainees will also have an opportunity to gain real paying jobs with the 30 projects to be assigned to subcontractors through a vendor partnership program.

With this project, the approximately 38 solarized homes will represent nearly 14%of the Reservation’s unsolarized homes that could physically support rooftop solar electric systems. The cumulative impact of this project, along with the other solar projects implemented on the Bishop Paiute Reservation, is that approximately 40% of the eligible homes will be solarized.

The project consists of the design, installation, inspection, and interconnection of approximately 38 grid-tied, solar electric systems, totaling approximately 108 kW AC rated capacity, on qualified, existing low-income, single-family homes located on the Bishop Paiute Reservation, which will provide roughly 30%–75% savings in displaced electricity. Each participating homeowner will receive a no-cost solar system with a long-term warranty and production meter/monitoring system to ensure proper function and guarantee performance of the solar generation. Six tribal job trainees will be trained per project for eight installations, enabling the trainees to gain valuable job experience. Thirty of the homes will be designated to subcontractors who will hire up to two trainees per home. This will be done with the help of the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance or Office department to ensure all interested trained participants have an opportunity to be employed on the solar installations. Additionally, each homeowner will be educated on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Bishop Paiute Tribe is located at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Bishop, California, and is the fifth largest Tribe in California, with around 2,000 enrolled members. The approximately 38 homes that will receive solar energy systems are preexisting and are located on the Bishop Paiute Reservation. The oldest homes were built in the late 1960s, and more than half have been built since the 1990s. Overall, these homes have high electricity usage during the winter and summer months.

The project is complete. For additional details, see the final report.

The project was competitively selected under the Office of Indian Energy Fiscal Year 2018 funding opportunity announcement “Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands - 2018” (DE-FOA-0001847) and started in October 2018.

The December 2018, November 2019, and December 2020 project status report provides more information.