Summary

The elements of the proposed project are to establish a baseline, then assess, evaluate, and plan for optimal utilization of conservation and renewable energy resources and technologies on tribal lands. Through the development of the energy plan, vision and leadership will be refined, energy options will be explored with the technical assistance of an energy consultant, and goals and objectives will be developed.

Project Description

Based on a contracted assessment of current and projected tribal energy loads and results of alternative energy resource and technology assessments, a strategic energy plan will be developed through a series of focus meetings. The plan, once approved by the tribal government, will guide future project development. The outcome of the project will be to produce a Conservation and Alternative Energy Plan to guide tribal decisions regarding current management and future development decisions. More-efficient and sustainable buildings will produce a long-term reduction in maintenance costs. Projects resulting from implementation of the plan will accrue social and economic benefits including the creation of jobs, tourism and revenue streams to the tribe. Social benefits will accrue from community education and diversion of "conserved" funding to social programs. The project also includes the opportunity for the tribe to showcase its cultural values to both community members and visiting tourists through education and demonstration.

Objectives

The tribal project will develop an energy plan laying the foundation for the informed decisions necessary to achieve tribal goals. The plan will point the way to decreased dependency on nonrenewable energy sources, thereby supporting the tribe's cultural values of wise resource management and improved self-sufficiency. The plan will indicate which energy projects to pursue in order to receive economic benefits, expanded employment, energy sales, economic diversification and cost savings. Energy cost savings and/or revenue generation will allow the community to support social and educational programs.

Scope

The goal of the project is to create an energy plan that encompasses options for conservation and utilization of alternative/renewable energy (solar, wind, minihydro, geothermal, and biomass). Specific project elements include the following:

  • Develop and evaluate baseline data on thermal and electrical energy consumption, costs, trends and future impacts
  • Determine the potential for wind, solar and ground-source heat-pump technologies to be integrated into current and planned tribal buildings
  • Determine if water resources on tribal land are capable of generating small-scale electrical power for tribal operations or for sale to the grid
  • Evaluate the potential for biomass resources to produce power, heat or other products for use within tribal buildings or for export
  • Assess the viability of retrofitting existing buildings
  • Develop a strategic energy plan
  • Report the results to key decision makers.
Project Location

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians is located in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. The Lac du Flambeau Reservation is a rural community that consists of approximately 86,500 acres of forested uplands, wetlands, lakes and rivers.

Project Status

This project is complete. For details, see the final report.

The project was competitively selected under the Tribal Energy Program's fiscal year 2007 funding opportunity announcement, "First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands," and started in September 2007. The November 2007 and November 2008 project status reports provide more information.

For current project status or additional information, contact the project contact.

Project Contact

Larry Wawronowicz
Director of Natural Resources
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
P.O. Box 67
Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538
Telephone: 715-588-5253
E-mail: dir253@aol.com

<p><strong>Tribe/Awardee</strong><br />Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians</p><p><strong>Location</strong><br />Lac du Flambeau, WI</p><p><strong>Project Title</strong><br />Strategic Energy Planning and Energy Options</p><p><strong>Type of Application</strong><br />First Steps (Planning)</p><p><strong>DOE Grant Number</strong><br />DE-FG36-07GO17085</p><p><strong>Project Amounts</strong><br />DOE: $100,000<br />Awardee: $33,646<br />Total: $133,646</p><p><strong>Project Status</strong><br />Complete</p><p><strong>Project Period of Performance</strong><br />Start: September 2007<br />End: December 2008</p>