Bishop Paiute Tribe – 2020 Project

Background

The 875-acre Bishop Paiute Reservation was established in 1936 and has a population of 1,651. According to the 2009 Tribal Census, of approximately 523 households on the Reservation, about 91% of residents were Native American, and close to 36% had children under 18 years old.

The Tribe is dedicated to improving energy efficiency and implementing renewable energy, and this commitment is part of the Tribe's strategic plan. This dedication is a reflection of the Tribe's commitment to self-sufficiency and protection of the environment. The Tribe plans to work with its electricity provider to increase the energy efficiency of tribal department buildings and community centers to save at least 40% of propane and electricity use and costs. The Tribe also has a goal to incorporate solar electric systems on its 490 residential and governmental/departmental buildings and well pumps, and install solar carports where technically feasible, once funding is secured.

For the past 9 years, 163 solar electric systems have been installed on residences on the Reservation. With grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy in 2015 and 2016 the Tribe installed 57 of those systems totaling 189.6 kW, and with additional DOE funding in 2017 the Tribe was able to provide solar jobs training to tribal members. With additional DOE funding in 2018 the Tribe installed an additional 40 grid-tied solar electric system, totaling 108 kW. The systems displace 30% to 75% or more of each home's electricity use while helping the low-income families save money on their electricity bills and allowing them to make ends meet. This project will continue a very successful model as well as provide solar job opportunities to tribal and community members.

Project Objectives

In support of the Tribe's commitment to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental protection and its vision to install solar energy systems on all buildings on the Reservation where it is technically feasible, the project goals are to:

1. Install 19 grid-tied, net-metered rooftop solar electric systems on owner-occupied, single-family homes of low-income families living on the Reservation, with opportunities to learn solar installation and opportunities to get paid to install solar
2. Deploy new clean energy systems that have at least 67 kW rated capacity
3. Displace at least 30% and up to 75% of total electricity used
4. Save homeowners a combined total of approximately $500,000 over the 20-year life of the systems.

The installed 67 kW-AC will produce at least 120,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) a year, displacing at least 30% and up to 75% of the 19 homes' total electricity use, saving low-income families approximately $500,000 over the systems' lifespans while eliminating an estimated 1,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The project will provide intensive hands-on job training on 3 of the 19 systems for a total of approximately 360 hours of in-depth solar installation training and remote third-party inspection training. The contractor and one to two tribal trainees will install solar systems on 16 of the 19 homes.

Project Scope

The project consists of the design, installation, inspection, and interconnection of 19 grid-tied, solar electric systems, totaling at least 67 kW-AC rated capacity, on qualified existing low-income single-family homes located within the Bishop Paiute Reservation, which will provide at least 30% and up to 75% savings in displaced electricity. Each homeowner will receive a no-cost solar system, with a long-term warranty and production meter and monitoring system to ensure proper function and guarantee performance of the solar generation.

Up to five tribal job trainees will be trained on three installations led by the project contractor, enabling the trainees to gain valuable, intensive job experience (approximately 320 training hours total). Sixteen of the homes will installed by the contractor, who will hire one to two trainees per home. This will be done with the help of the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance department to ensure all trained participants interested will have an opportunity to be employed on the 16 solar installations. Additionally, each homeowner will be educated on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Project Location

Bishop Paiute Reservation is located in the upper Owens Valley west of the City of Bishop, California. The approximately 38 homes that will receive solar energy systems are preexisting and are located on the Bishop Paiute Reservation. The oldest homes were built in the late 1960s, and more than half have been built since the 1990s. Overall, these homes have high electricity usage during the winter and summer months.