Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe - 2022 Project

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

Summary

Under this grant, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Leech Lake Band) will install approximately 12 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with an estimated combined rated capacity of 518 kilowatts (kW). This project will offset electricity use at approximately 11 existing and currently-under-construction Tribal buildings, saving over $2.5 million over the life of the systems. Additionally, this project will include hands-on solar PV systems installation and operations and maintenance training for several Leech Lake Band members.

Project Description

Background

The Leech Lake Reservation is 865,000 acres in size, located in rural northern Minnesota and home to over 9,000 Tribal members. The Leech Lake Band has set forth a vision of persistently seeking sustainable energy solutions, as evidenced by a previous energy audit grant and several completed solar projects across the Reservation, including 200 kW of installed solar PV that provides energy assistance to 100 low-income Leech Lake Band member homes, 19 residential solar furnace units, and 3 larger solar furnace units on Tribal government buildings, saving 30% in heating costs annually. Additionally, a Guaranteed Energy Savings Program project has recouped over $260,000 in energy costs per year.

This Solar Energy Sustainability project builds on the Leech Lake Band’s energy planning and development efforts to date, including their Solar Master Plan, Sustainable Energy Portfolio, Populations Risk and Climate Change Adaptation Plan Phase 1, Approaching Net Zero Construction Guide, Building Solar Ready Guide, and Electric Vehicle and Infrastructure Guide.

Project Objectives

The objectives of this project include offsetting electricity use from the grid, lowering energy costs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and providing hands-on solar PV training for Leech Lake Band members.

The Leech Lake Band is served by five utilities with varying rates that are expected to increase over time. This project will provide energy at a fixed-rate long term, and it will further the Leech Lake Band’s sustainability and resilience goals by providing sustainable renewable energy generation for the Leech Lake Band’s buildings and community, while also improving its air quality.

Project Scope

The primary scope of work for this project is to complete final systems design, install, commission, and monitor approximately 12 solar PV systems located throughout the Cass Lake area of the Leech Lake Reservation. This project is anticipated to save the Leech Lake Band more than $2.5 million over the life of the systems. Additionally, the project scope includes hands-on solar PV training for several Leech Lake Band members. This training program will be integral to the project’s solar PV installations and will include operations and maintenance training, building in-house capacity to manage Leech Lake Band’s energy assets.

Project Location

The Leech Lake Reservation covers nearly 865,000 acres in the Northern Minnesota Counties of Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, and Itasca. While Leech Lake is a cold weather community with high energy costs, there are approximately 300 solar days per year.