Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians—2022 Project

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

Summary

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe or Tribe) will install approximately 69 kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy at the Tribe’s Jijak property located in Hopkins, MI. This project is estimated to meet 100% of the current electrical needs of 17 tribal buildings and outdoor lighting. In addition, it will save on energy costs; reduce Gun Lake Tribe’s reliance on non-renewable energy resources; increase local renewable energy generating capacity; reduce the Tribe’s reliance on coal-generated electricity; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Project Description

Background

The Gun Lake Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in southwest Michigan. The Tribe has an enrolled citizenship of 604 individuals. Tribal lands include 806 acres held in trust by the United States government for the community and an additional 580 acres in fee land.

The proposed project will meet the goals outlined within the Tribe’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan, which includes increasing the use of renewable energy resources to protect the land and natural resources for the next seven generations. The Tribal Council Strategic Plan includes a long-term goal to enhance infrastructure and strengthen self-sufficiency by expanding renewable energy programs and alternative power sources. A current step is the development of a Renewable Energy Master Plan. The Tribe has completed PV feasibility studies for four properties, including the Jijak property, and installed small solar arrays at the Tribal housing development and Luella Collins Community Center. The Tribe is moving forward with retrofitting its government buildings with light-emitting diode lights, as has already been done at Gun Lake Casino.

The Tribe is also invested in the energy efficiency and energy conservation of its citizens. In 2013, the Conservation Incentive Program, which offers incentives to Tribal citizens for improving their environmental footprint, was launched. Each year the Tribe distributes tens of thousands of dollars to citizens toward efficient vehicles, home energy audits, implementation of the energy-saving retrofits, and installation of residential renewable energy. Completion of this project would be a big step toward a bright future for renewable energy development on Gun Lake Tribal lands, which shall enhance and strengthen sovereignty and economic stability for future generations.

Project Objectives

The Tribe will install approximately 69 kW of solar PV energy. This project will meet an estimated 100% of the current electrical needs of 17 buildings and outdoor lighting. Over the life of the system, the project could save over $312,000. It will also reduce Gun Lake Tribe’s reliance on non-renewable energy resources; increase local renewable energy-generating capacity; reduce the Tribe’s reliance on coal-generated electricity; and save roughly 69,000 lbs. of coal and 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Project Scope

The project will be implemented through a collaboration between Gun Lake Tribe’s Environmental Department and Public Works Department. Lead Tribal staff will act as authorized representatives to approve contracts and necessary amendments and be responsible for fiscal risk management. In addition, staff will administer the workplan to ensure completion of project milestones and work with other departments on procurement of a vendor, reporting, accounting, and any other project-related activities, as needed.

The Tribe will competitively select a vendor to complete the installation and connection of the system, which includes 144 solar panels, racking, and a hybrid inverter for monitoring.

Project Location

The project will be completed at the Tribe’s Jijak property located in Hopkins, MI, which lies in the southwest portion of the state. The solar PV array will be installed in the northeastern section of the property.