Award Number: DE-IE0000087CX(s) Applied: A9, B5.16Office of Indian EnergyLocation(s): WIOffice(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 1, 2017
Estimated Read Time min
Deployment of Community-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems in the Forest County Potawatomi Community
Award Number: DE-IE0000087
CX(s) Applied: A9, B5.16
Office of Indian Energy
Location(s): WI
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to the Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC) for the installation of approximately 734 kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities (55 systems) on its Forest County, Wisconsin, reservation lands and lands owned by FCPC Tribal members whose homes are qualified and selected for the project. Each solar PV installation would range in size from the approximately 4.2 kW systems on Tribal homes up the 327 kW system planned at the Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel. Installations would use standard system components of solar modules, inverters, and racking structures with each building having a system sized appropriately for its energy needs. Performance of the installed PV systems would be measured and monitored. Energy savings would be verified and economic analysis for each PV system site would be performed.
System installations are expected on 50 Tribal homes, two community buildings (Aquaponics and Wastewater Treatment Facility), two government buildings (Health and Wellness Center and Executive Building), and one casino (Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel). Installations at most of the Tribal homes, the Wastewater Treatment Facility, and the Executive Building are expected to be roof-mounted systems. The Aquaponics site would include both roof-mounted and ground-mounted systems. All proposed structures for the roof-mount installations would be evaluated by the recipient and determined to be structurally sound prior to installation of a PV system. A few of the Tribal homes and all other sites would have ground-mounted systems installed. Ground-mounted systems at the Health and Wellness Center (approx. 98 kW on 0.2 acres) and the Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel (approx. 327 kW on 1.2 acres) would require vegetation clearing and tree removal for installation.