Tonto Apache Tribe – 2015 Project

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

Summary

The Tonto Apache Tribe (TAT) continues to enact its renewable energy initiative in building a 249-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the tribe’s Mazatzal Hotel on the Tonto Apache Indian Reservation. This facility consumes almost 780,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. The average cost of electricity for the proposed PV facility is $0.107/kWh. The hotel represents one of the largest energy consumers on the Reservation, making it the ideal candidate to offset using clean solar energy. This project complements the TAT renewable energy initiative.

After a long struggle, the TAT was federally recognized in 1972. Tribal members had always inhabited the area, with many of the families living near the present Reservation location prior to recognition. The TAT is a relatively small Tribe in terms of population and land base; most of the 145 tribal members reside on the Reservation.

The Tribe’s long-term energy goal is to build efficiencies into the energy used by the spectrum of tribal entities. Based on the success of capturing the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant and being in the final construction phase of those projects, the Tribe wishes to continue developing renewable energy projects with the help of these federal grants and maintain a sustainable environment well into the future.

Decreased spending on energy is the ultimate goal, and achieving that goal frees discretionary funds for other important tribal priorities, which is a definite benefit to tribal decision makers attempting to accommodate many economic and social demands. Through these projects, jobs are created for the Tribe as well, empowering some tribal members with skill sets in electrical, mechanical, and overall project management critical to building high-level renewable systems and operations and maintenance for optimal performance energy yields for the life of the respective technologies. Environmentally, these projects align with the Tribe’s vision and culture, as the TAT aims to protect its lands and the planet as a whole.

The TAT continues to follow through with its renewable energy initiative in building a 249-kW solar PV system on the Tribe’s Mazatzal Hotel, located on the tribal Reservation. The system would be a ballasted roof-mounted application, which requires no roof penetrations. The tribal PV system would be connected to a single interconnection point (meter) with the utility company. By using proven solar PV technology in the Arizona climate, this system is projected to provide approximately 47% offset of total building annual energy usage.

The solar PV system is expected to provide $37,000 in savings the first year at current utility rates. With an average 3.5% utility rate escalation, the system is expected to save the Tribe approximately $1.8 million over a 30-year period. The TAT has analyzed other renewable energy technologies, and has found solar PV possesses the greatest benefit to the Tribe. Payson supports one of the highest production values from its solar irradiation and climate, and therefore best supports The Tribe’s energy goals.

The scope of the project includes the 249-kW solar PV system, which will face due south. The system will consist of approximately 816 305-watt polycrystalline solar PV modules and ballasted, roof-mounted racking. The system will provide an estimated 47% offset in total facility energy usage. The PV modules, engineered to withstand 90-mph winds and 40-lb snow loads, will be mounted and wet-stamped by an engineer. In addition, the TAT will have independent third-party inspections to verify installation.

The project will be completed through a vendor with an existing relationship and contract with the TAT through a previously funded community-scale alternative energy project. The vendor will order and provide all materials, engineering, and acquire agreements such as interconnection agreements and net metering on behalf of the Tribe. The TAT views this organizational approach as most viable, and the relationship is comparable to a turn-key development project. Tonto Apache staff will oversee the implementation of the project through the Technical Point of Contact, who will coordinate an advisory group of tribal staff that will receive and review regular progress reports from the vendor.

The facility building specified for the TAT community solar project is the Mazatzal Hotel, which is located on the Tonto Apache Reservation in in Payson, Arizona.

This project is complete. For details, see the final report.

The project was competitively selected under the DOE Office of Indian Energy Tribal Energy Deployment Program's fiscal year 2015 funding opportunity announcement “Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects on Indian Lands” (DE-FOA-0001021) and started in June 2015.

The March 2015, December 2016, and November 2017 project status reports provide more information. *Please note that this project has since been modified, and the presentation may no longer reflect the current scope of the project.