Indian Country Energy Roundup: Positioning Tribes to Thrive

During the Agua Caliente Tribal Renewable Energy Project Development and Finance Workshop, attendees toured the solar installations on the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian Reservation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy hosted a three-day Community-Scale Tribal Renewable Energy Project Development and Finance Workshop Feb. 9–11, 2016, at the Agua Caliente Resort and Casino in Rancho Mirage, California. The workshop featured presentations from DOE and other federal, state, tribal, and industry experts.

While in Bethel, Alaska, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene visited the nearby village of Oscarville’s school, which is the only place in the village with running water and a flush toilet.

On March 22, 2016, at RES Las Vegas, Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene announced over $9 million in funding for 24 American Indian and Alaska Native communities to deploy clean energy and energy efficiency projects.

Office of Indian Energy Program Managers Givey Kochanowski and Sarai Geary, Senior Policy Advisor Doug MacCourt, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory Engineer Sherry Stout strike a pose at the RES Las Vegas photo booth.

Touring First Solar's 250-megawatt Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project located on the Moapa River Reservation. From left to right: Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene, Office of Indian Energy Senior Policy Advisor Doug MacCourt, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Engineer Sherry Stout, Moapa Band of Paiutes Vice Chairman Greg Anderson, and Office of Indian Energy Program Manager Sarai Geary.

During one of several collaborative strategy sessions led by communications strategists from DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Graphic Designer Toni Ramos (far left) from the Blue Lake Rancheria brainstorms with NREL Design Strategist Bill Gillies and NREL Graphic Designer Joelynn Schroeder in March. Their work is part of the Strategic Communications Assistance Blue Lake Rancheria is receiving under the DOE Office of Indian Energy’s Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team Program.

On April 20, Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene (third from right) joined other key stakeholders for the official opening of the Menominee Tribal Enterprises biomass combined heat and power district energy plant in Wisconsin.

Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene (third from the right) was among those in attendance at a groundbreaking ceremony the Seneca Nation of Indians held for its 1.5-MW wind turbine on April 27, 2016.