Summary
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs include the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes. Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises (WSPWE) is a corporate entity owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and is responsible for managing electrical-power-generation facilities on tribal lands. In order to build stronger public and Tribal Council support for the development of renewable energy projects on the reservation, WSPWE will conduct a 12-month public education and technical-expertise-development program.
Project Description
WSPWE will be responsible for management of the DOE contract and will provide overall project administration, subcontracting and accounting support. WSPWE will coordinate with Tribal Council, tribal officers and other tribal agencies regarding the implementation of the scope of work. WSPWE has the primary responsibility for the development of the wind and geothermal resources on the reservation. Warm Springs Forest Products Industries has the primary responsibility for the development of an existing biomass project on the reservation. WSPWE will take the lead role in the education and training program and will coordinate with Warm Springs Forest Products Industries regarding incorporation of the biomass energy project into all workshops, community meetings and educational materials. Consultants with expertise in areas of biomass, wind and geothermal development will assist WSPWE in the development of educational materials and presentations at community and technical training workshops. WSPWE has selected a highly qualified team of contractors, nonprofit organizations and educational groups to assist in the development of educational materials and presentations at workshops.
Objective
In order to build stronger public and Tribal Council support for the development of renewable energy projects on the reservation, WSPWE will conduct a 12-month public education and technical expertise development program. The objectives of this program are:
- To build a knowledge base within the tribal community regarding the potential for renewable energy development on reservation lands
- To educate the tribal community regarding the development process, impacts and benefits
- To increase the technical expertise of tribal government and Tribal Council.
Scope
Tribal decision making is often a consensus-based process. The proposed program is intended to create a greater knowledge base for members to make informed comments on proposed programs and for decision makers to make informed decisions on tribal commitments. The first level of workshops will be designed to educate and train tribal decision makers. The second level of educational programs will be to educate the tribal community at large and provide materials to the school system.
Decisions involving development of renewable energy projects on the reservation will involve almost all members of the tribal community. The education and training program has been designed to provide technical support and an increased knowledge base for tribal decision makers to make informed decisions regarding the implementation of the renewable energy development programs. The program is also designed to increase the general community's understanding of, and support for, the renewable energy development programs.
To accomplish these objectives, WSPWE has established several goals for this project, which include:
- Creation of a knowledge base in the tribal community regarding the development of renewable energy projects on tribal lands by holding workshops and distributing information
- Increase tribal government staff and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agency staff technical expertise in the development of renewable energy projects, and knowledge of their impacts and benefits, through training workshops
- Educate the tribal community regarding how renewable energy development is a strategic element of the tribes' Integrated Resource Management Plan through distribution of information and public workshops
- Provide information to all levels of the tribal community and government regarding the development process and related impacts, including economic benefits
- Provide educational information for the schools regarding renewable energy
- Expanded training and internships for WSPWE staff
- Increased tribal participation in regional and national renewable energy organizations and conferences such as Geothermal Resource Council, American Wind Energy Association and The Renewable Northwest Project
- Provide field trips for Tribal Council to developed wind and geothermal projects to see first hand the type and size of facilities.
Project Location
The Warm Springs Reservation is located in central Oregon between the Cascade Mountains along its western boundary and the Deschutes River on its eastern boundary. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs include the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Tribes. The Warm Springs Reservation is inhabited by nearly 4300 tribal members, most of whom live in or around the town of Warm Springs.
Project Status
This project is complete. For details, see the final report. The project was competitively selected under the Tribal Energy Program's fiscal year 2007 funding opportunity announcement, "First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands," and started in September 2007. The November 2007 presentation provides more information.
For current project status or additional information, contact the project contact.
Project Contact
Jim Manion
General Manager
Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises
P.O. Box 960
Warm Springs, OR 97761
Telephone: 541-553-1046
E-mail: j_manion@wspower.com
<p><strong>Tribe/Awardee</strong><br />Warm Springs Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the</p><p><strong>Location</strong><br />Warms Springs, OR</p><p><strong>Project Title</strong><br />Capacity and Awareness Building</p><p><strong>Type of Application</strong><br />First Steps (Planning)</p><p><strong>DOE Grant Number</strong><br />DE-FG36-07GO17086</p><p><strong>Project Amounts</strong><br />DOE: $100,000<br />Awardee: $490<br />Total: $100,490</p><p><strong>Project Status</strong><br />Complete</p><p><strong>Project Period of Performance</strong><br />Start: September 2007<br />End: December 2008</p>