Rosebud Sioux Tribe – 2016 Project

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

Summary

The primary scope of work is composed of the design, installation, inspection, and interconnection of 10 grid-tied, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, totaling approximately 58 kilowatts (kW) rated capacity, on existing income qualified single-family homes located on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. The project will provide approximately 40% savings in displaced electricity, and tenants will be educated on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Tribal job trainees and community volunteers will assist with the installations, gaining valuable hands-on experience.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST) is located in Todd County in South Central South Dakota with tribal trust lands scattered in a checkerboard fashion in four other counties surrounding it to the east and north, totaling over 900,000 acres. The Rosebud Sioux Reservation is the sixth largest in the nation. Many of the 26,000 present-day RST members reside on the Reservation.

The Rosebud Sioux Nation is in the fifth poorest county in the country, and both the Tribe's government and members disproportionately spend their income on energy. Through the 10 residential solar PV installations, the RST will realize an estimated $221,300 in lifetime electricity cost savings to the Tribe.

The goals of the project are:

1. Provide much-needed assistance to the RST in the reduction of cost and consumption of energy and fossil fuels
2. Introduce solar PV technology installation and its environmental and economic benefits to the Tribe and at-large community
3. Provide a hands-on, real-world training experience in PV installation for 15 tribal members including, but not limited to, Sicangu Wicoti Awanyakapi (SWA) Corporation staff, Sinte Gleska University students, and interested community members
4. Use this project to demonstrate the benefits of solar PV as a viable means of sustainable economic development and job creation.

The project has several measurable objectives. The project will install 10 grid-tied, residential solar PV systems for income-qualified families living on the Rosebud Reservation, thereby offsetting approximately 39% of total kBtu in electricity usage. The systems will generate approximately $221,300 worth of power for low-income families over the system lifespans, while eliminating an estimated 2,020 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Carrying out these installations will also provide hands-on solar installation training to approximately 15 tribal trainees from the tribal housing authority, Sinte Gleska University, and interested community members.

Specifically, the homes are owned and maintained by the tribal housing authority, SWA Corporation, and were built in 2007. The homes are 1,092 square feet, 2’x6’ wood frame construction with metal roofing and are occupied by income-qualified residents of the Tribe. The 10 homes total 10,920 square feet. Comprehensive site visits have been conducted, and all 10 homes have been inspected to verify structural integrity and adequate solar exposure for a solar PV system.

The RST is located in Todd County in South Central South Dakota with tribal trust lands scattered in a checkerboard fashion in four other counties surrounding it to the east and north, totaling more than 900,000 acres. The project will take place on 10 homes in the Tribe’s Wicozani Subdivision, a cul-de-sac in the central part of the RST Reservation. The homes, built in 2007 on trust land, are owned and maintained by the tribal housing authority, SWA Corp.

The project is complete. For more, see the final report.

The project was competitively selected under the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy’s Fiscal Year 2015 funding opportunity announcement “Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects on Indian Lands – 2015” (DE-FOA-0001390) and started in July 2016.

The November 2016 and November 2017 project status reports provide more information.