Tonto Apache Tribe - 2014 Project

Background

The TAT's land base is very limited, so commitment toward land use is an important issue. Nevertheless, the tribe has considered alternative generation of energy as a top priority within its deliberations over the past two years. Due to the lack of land and close proximities between residential, governmental, and business operations, wind energy development has not been viewed as a potential. Similarly, biomass development is not something feasible or reasonable because the tribe is not in an area where quantities of usable and affordable biomass are available. Because of location, and because solar projects may be designed in which land use and availabilities are not critical negative factors, the tribe has explored solar alternatives in its desire to provide some sort of alternative energy as part of its service profile. Being in northern Arizona, TAT has chosen polycrystalline solar technology that is proven, bankable, and backed with an aggressive warranty.

Project Objectives

The objective for TAT is to become a renewable energy leader among tribal nations, and this project will provide a path toward sustainability for others to follow and emulate.

The key goals for the project are as follows:

• Integrate renewable energy on community buildings
• Become less reliant on energy generated by nonrenewable sources
• Reduce carbon footprint
• Become a leader in self-sustainability
• Create needed jobs for tribal members.

Conservation, best use, and least negative impacts to the general environment are long-held tribal values that are reflected in many of the decisions TAT makes. In the case of alternative energy development, reducing the impact from tribal operations and utilizing renewable energy are goals that fit both the tribe and solar development. With this, it is the understanding of the tribe that success will be achieved over a long-term, sustainable effort and built on a foundation of resolve and perseverance, and will be achieved with integrating solar technology into TAT community buildings on tribal land.

Project Scope

The buildings included in the proposed project include the tribal administration building and the community gymnasium/pool. The buildings represent the largest energy consumers as well as the highest cost of energy properties on the Tonto Apache Indian Reservation, making them the ideal candidates to offset using clean solar energy.

The project will consist of approximately 267 kilowatts (kW) of PV modules. Up to 75 kW will be installed on the tribal administration building, which will offset approximately 71% of facility electric load. This installation will be a roof-mounted system utilizing the available roof space. The tribal recreation center system will be a 192-kW PV system. This installation will be a combination of roof- and canopy-mounted solar modules.

TAT will approach the project with management responsibility assigned to tribal staff, working in conjunction with a selected consultant/contractor. This will not only allow the project to be implemented using existing staff, but also provide the blueprint for future development in alternative energy.

Project Location

The project will be located on the Tonto Apache Reservation in Payson, Arizona. Per Tribal Council resolution, the tribe has allocated approximately five acres for this project, including the tribal headquarters building, tribal gymnasium, and the lands surrounding the buildings.