White Earth Community Facilities Solar PV Project Award Number: DE-IE0000044 CX(s) Applied: A9, A11, B5.16 Office of Indian Energy Date: 05/11/2016 Location(s): MN Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
May 19, 2016
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White Earth Community Facilities Solar PV Project
Award Number: DE-IE0000044
CX(s) Applied: A9, A11, B5.16
Office of Indian Energy
Date: 05/11/2016
Location(s): MN
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to the White Earth Reservation Tribal Council to reduce energy costs, increase energy security for Indian Tribes and tribal members and add additional renewable energy generation capacity by installing three solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for a total of 60.8 kW of energy generation. Additionally, these installations would also provide hands-on, solar-installation training to Tribal community volunteers and job trainees.
Activities associated with the proposed project would include the design, development and installation of three separate ground-mounted, grid-tied solar PV arrays at three different locations adjacent to community buildings in the unincorporated tribal communities of Elbow Lake and Rice Lake within the White Earth Reservation. The installation at Elbow Lake Community Center would generate 12.16 kW, the Rice Lake Daycare installation would generate another 12.16 kW, and the installation at Rice Lake Community Center would produce 36.48 kW. The installation of these arrays would require the installation of shallow foundations (less than 3ft deep) and burying of transmission lines which would necessitate minimal ground disturbance of previously disturbed land. In the interest of public safety, these foundations and the related PV arrays would be contained within a chain-link fenced enclosure measuring approximately 25ft by 100ft. Once transmission lines are buried, the disturbed earth would be replaced and returned to its original condition. No change in the use, mission or operation of existing facilities would arise out of this effort. A tribal building permit would be required and would be obtained before any work is begun.