Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - 2022 Project

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

Summary

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (SRST), through SAGE Development Authority (SAGE) will install one 1.7-megawatt (MW) wind turbine, which will produce approximately 6.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity per year. Energy from this installation will displace approximately 85% of the load of the Prairie Knights Resort. This project will save the Tribe more than $15 million over the life of the system, with the savings distributed to Tribal elders and other disadvantaged Tribal members. In addition to providing clean, low-cost energy to Tribal members, the project will also provide training and short- and long-term jobs for Tribal members.

Project Description

Background

The SRST is a federally recognized Tribe with a land base of 2.3 million acres. The Standing Rock Reservation includes all of Sioux County, North Dakota, and Corson County, South Dakota, plus slivers of northern Dewey and Ziebach counties in South Dakota. There are approximately 15,568 enrolled members. The reservation’s population is approximately 7,819 (2020 Decennial Census). 

This installation will support the efforts of the Tribe’s newly formed public power authority, SAGE, which aims to fundamentally change the Tribe’s relationship to energy from exploiting and depending on fossil fuels to one that is sovereign and harmonious with Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth). The Tribe completed planning activities toward sustainable energy development with a First Steps grant from the U.S. DOE in 2011 and conducted a wind feasibility study that was also supported by a U.S. DOE grant in 2012. This project will complement the Tribe’s transition to renewables, which includes the development of the 235-MW Anpetu Wi Wind Farm to be developed in North Dakota and sold into the Southwest Power Pool market. Unlike the larger Anpetu Wi project, this 1.7-MW wind turbine will be centrally located and will provide direct use benefit to Tribal residents.

Project Objectives

This community-scale project will serve a substantial portion of the Tribe’s electricity load, while also accelerating the Tribe’s transition to renewable energy, generating an economic benefit for Tribal members, and advancing the Tribe’s energy independence and resiliency goals. Further, this installation will leverage the efforts of the Tribe’s newly formed public power authority, SAGE Development Authority, a Section 17 Corporation wholly owned by SRST. 

SAGE and SRST have three main goals in their energy vision: (1) increase renewable generation; (2) advance energy sovereignty and independence; and (3) lower the energy bills of the Tribal community. This vision is rooted in living harmoniously with the earth, which requires the transition from destructive fossil fuels to localized renewable energy generation. Currently, the power mix is 63% fossil fuel-based (39.4% coal, 20.6% natural gas, 3.1% fuel oil) although renewable generation grew 17% in the region over the past 20 years. This project will generate enough electricity to cover 85% of the Prairie Knights Resort’s electricity usage. 

The importance of renewable energy proliferation is compounded by the Tribe’s desire for increased energy sovereignty and independence. Increased energy independence will bring local jobs, increased power reliability, enhanced efficiency, and decreased power bills. This project will displace a substantial portion of the Tribe’s annual power needs, approximately 6,137,664 kilowatt-hours each year.

Project Scope

SAGE and its partners will design, procure, and install one 1.7-MW turbine, which will produce approximately 6.1 GWh of electricity per year. The project will be sited on SRST Tribal lands in North Dakota interconnected with a local utility distribution service. The project requires expertise in electrical, structural, civil, and environmental engineering and project management associated with those disciplines. The project will operate in three major phases, and community outreach will underpin each phase.

The pre-construction phase will address all design and permitting aspects of the project. It also includes securing the agreements that allow purchase and finance of the project. This phase of the project includes final design, permitting, interconnection, and infrastructure procurement.

The construction phase will address the delivery of components, site preparation, construction, and completion of the installation. The main tasks include securing long lead-time deliveries, preparing footings and foundation, confirming turbine shipping logistics, erecting tower and turbine, completing balance of systems, and commissioning the wind energy system.

Post-construction is the final phase in project execution and includes verification and aggregation of billing credit, reconciliation, and project close-out activities. Additionally, 12 months of energy data verification and all grant closeout reporting will be completed in the post-construction phase.

Project Location

SRST is a federally recognized Tribe with a land base of 2.3 million acres. The Standing Rock Reservation includes all Sioux County, North Dakota, and Corson County, South Dakota, plus slivers of northern Dewey and Ziebach Counties in South Dakota. This project will install one 1.7-MW wind turbine on Tribal trust lands near Fort Yates, North Dakota.