"Last week I went out West to observe the Department of Energy and National Renewable Research Lab roll out projects which various Indian and Eskimo tribes have been pursuing this past year toward sustainability (and some energy independence). Much of the innovation shown has been an attempt by some tribal communities to merely survive (as some have been realizing costs of over 50 cents per kilowatt for electricity with over 7 dollars per gallon for fuel at various times the last couple years). Over two dozen federally recognized Indian tribes offered glimpses of their wind, hydro, solar and biomass energy projects. They were at different levels of completion, and it was interesting to listen to the varying experiences of raising capital, getting through feasability studies, navigating environmental assessments and getting decent Power Purchase Agreements with utilities to put their excess generated power on the electrical grid. Particuarly impressive were projects dealing with:

-Wind power. A tribe has been able to produce "behind the meter" (energy that is produced can be used locally) with 'smart grid' technology that allows individual homes to 'talk' with wind turbines and local diesel generator to maximize power distribution.

-Hydro power. One tribe is building a large dam from scratch with turbines, and there is the future possiblity for coastal tribes to capture energy off tides from long turbine 'snakes' that float on the surface. Other tribes are looking at existing dams and the possibility of retrofitting 'spinners' onto them.

-Solar power. Some tribes are currently working on a huge field of solar panels in a farm-like fashion, and have gotten offers of capital from overseas companies. (No longer are tribes having to scrape up their own monies to buy equipment. In some cases the world is coming to them).

-Biomass power. several northern tribes are now investing in ways to harvest dead fuel on the ground as well as tree stand fuel into pellets that can be burned in individual home stoves or in mass fashion for a municipal boiler."

Get the Story:
Art Nash :Sustainability, Indian style (The Crookston Daily Times 11/11)