U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Tribal Energy Program

Case Studies

This section includes some case studies of energy development projects carried out by tribes throughout the United States. While each tribe is unique, the experiences of other tribes are of great value and can help a tribe avoid pitfalls and take the shortest route to success.

Tribal Utility Formation

For a variety of reasons, several tribes have formed their own utilities. See the following case studies of successful tribal utilities:

• Aha Macav Power Service serving the Fort Mojave Reservation

• Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative serving the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

Tribal Energy Projects

The following case studies relate to energy projects on tribal lands:

• Pay-As-You-Go Utility Meters in the Aleut Region (PDF 1.4 MB) Download Adobe Reader

• Utility-Scale Wind Turbine at the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation

• Wind Opportunities for Tribal Schools.

The following article describes weatherization projects on tribal lands:
"Weatherization in Indian Country," Conservation Update, November - December 2004

These news items from the DOE's EERE Network News describe recent or ongoing tribal energy projects:

• "New Large Wind Power Plants Planned for Washington and Oregon," including a 104-megawatt wind plant that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are investing in, December 8, 2004

• "Nevada Tribe Uses Solar Power, Earns First State Rebate," includes news of a 7.5-kilowatt system installed by the Washoe Indian Tribe of Nevada and California, December 8, 2004

• "USDA Awards Grants for Wind and Solar Energy Projects," including projects in Alaska and on Hualapai and Navajo tribal lands, July 7, 2004

• "NTUA Installs 63 Solar and Wind Power Systems," June 9, 2004

• "Nevada Adopts Solar Energy Incentives, Awards First to Washoe Tribe," May 12, 2004

• "Indian Tribes and Cities Teaming Up to Deploy Renewable Energy," March 10, 2004

• "World's Largest Utility Battery System Installed in Alaska," September 24, 2003

• "DOE to Award $2.9 Million to 16 Tribal Clean Energy Projects," August 13, 2003

• "USDA Funds Rural Renewable Energy Projects in Alaska and Hawaii," August 6, 2003

• "DOE, USDA, and Interior Department to Promote Woody Biomass for Energy," June 25, 2003

• "Report Finds High Potential for Renewable Power Throughout the West," February 26, 2003

• Solar power helps provide high-speed Internet to tribal learning centers, last part of the article "U.S. Navy Dedicates a 750-Kilowatt Solar Power System," November 13, 2002

• "DOE Funds Eight Native American Tribes to Develop Renewable Energy," April 30, 2003

• "Geothermal Power Plant in Northern California Gains Approval," news of a disputed geothermal plant near Medicine Lake, November 27, 2002

• "Solar Power Systems Bring the Internet to the Navajo Nation," April 17, 2002.