Oglala Sioux (Lakota) Housing – 2020 Project

Background

Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing (OSLH) is the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The Reservation has a Native American population of more than 19,000, spread throughout nine districts. The Reservation is more than 3,468 square miles and is the third-poorest American area, according to a 2016 U.S. Census Report. The Pine Ridge Reservation is designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Promise Zone. 

OSLH worked with a partner to install solar on one Rural Innovation Fund house in 2017 and three Tribal Housing and Urban Development houses for homeless veterans in 2017–2018. Oglala Omaste 2020 is a project that came from the Tribe's response to conversations and evaluations of tribal needs, energy options, local provider net-metering policies, and funding sources. 

The Oglala Omaste 2020 Project integrates into the long-term energy goals of OSLH and Oglala Sioux Tribe to provide tribal members with energy savings and reduce tribal utility bills. Installing solar PV on tribal facilities and residences promises several benefits to tenants and the surrounding community. 

Project Objectives

Oglala Omaste 2020 project goals are to install solar PV for five homes and the OSLH Administrative Building to demonstrate the many benefits of solar energy. Several solar PV systems have been installed on the Pine Ridge Reservation, but this is the first time a broader project will be demonstrated and led by OSLH. Solar PV aligns with OSLH's mission and primary goals, as well as the greater needs of Pine Ridge Reservation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. 

Objectives for this project include: 

• Sustainable: Support tribal environmental and net-zero energy goals by reducing reliance on nonrenewable energy resources, increasing local renewable generating capacity, and reducing the Tribe's environmental footprint. 
• Affordable: Minimize life-cycle costs of energy services compared to historic costs. 
• Commercial technology: Rely on commercially available technologies with standard service warranties. 
• Strategically integrated: Support the strategic goals, plans, and mission of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, including preserving and sharing cultural traditions, improving the general welfare of the tribal community, and compassionately providing for the people and future generations. 
• Economic development: Economic development is a high priority for the Tribe given the high poverty and unemployment rates on the Reservation. The Tribe expects to drive projects that can generate employment for the members as well as provide training and expertise for high-demand jobs. 
• Cost-effective: For the project to be viable, it is necessary to evaluate options based on their cost-effectiveness over a 30-year horizon.  

OSLH will permit solarization of the first tribal facility on the Pine Ridge Reservation and serve as an example for future solar PV projects.

Project Scope

The primary scope of work for this project comprises of the development; design; engineering, procurement, and contracting; and installation, training and commissioning of solar PV generating systems totaling 54.5-kW on six tribal buildings: the OSLH building; four Veterans Affairs-supporting (HUD-VASH) homes; and one Rural Innovation Fund home. This project will provide hands-on training to four OSLH paid maintenance personnel, five to ten Oglala Lakota College students, and five participants of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation workforce development program. Tribal job trainees will assist with the installations, gaining valuable hands-on experience and workforce development training. System performance—overseen through remote monitoring and electric utility bill records of all six buildings—will be monitored for at least one year following interconnection. 

The project team members will work to provide solutions to minimize any delays and/or barriers to ensure the project is completed in a safe, high-quality, and impactful way.

Project Location

The Oglala Omaste 2020 Project will install 54.5-kW of solar PV on one tribal facility and five tribal residences on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.