Sacred Power installed several wind turbines in the Parmelee Community. The electricity generated from this turbine in the rural Parmelee area goes into the home. Any unused power goes back into the grid maintained by Lacreek Electric of Martin, SD. Sacred Power is looking forward to expanding this project, through additional funding received from the USDA, to several homes in the St. Francis Community on the Rosebud Reservation. Photo by Vi Waln
Alternative Energy Source Coming to Rosebud Reservation
By Vi Waln
LCT Correspondent WASHINGTON – Tom Vilsack, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, awarded nine grants in September to help reduce energy costs for residents in remote rural areas where the cost of producing electricity is extremely high. One of the grantees will use the funding to install up to 50 wind turbines for homes on the Rosebud Reservation. Sacred Power LLC was awarded $1,406,975 to install wind turbines that will provide energy at homes in the St. Francis community. Each household system will include a 1.8 kilowatt Pika T701 wind turbine and one Pika X3001 inverter to condition the power for the grid. Funding for these projects is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement, according to a press release. “This is a great opportunity for us to continue to provide renewable energy to our tribe,” stated Tamara Stands And Looks Back-Spotted Tail, a consultant to Sacred Power. “I’d like to see our tribes become more energy efficient.” St. Francis Community will be responsible for selecting the recipients of the wind turbines. Priority will be given to elderly, disabled, single parents and low income residents. The selection process will probably include a formal application for the 2.5 kilowatt turbines. The turbine doesn’t operate unless the wind blows. The electricity generated from the turbine goes into the home, with the unused power going back into the grid maintained by Cherry Todd Electric. Established in 2001, Sacred Power is based in Albuquerque, NM and is the largest Native American owned and operated renewable energy systems integration and manufacturing firm in the US. Sacred Power is well versed in the unique requirements and regulations of local, state, tribal and federal agencies and has provided hundreds of installations for government and public facilities nationwide; US Navy, DOD, DOE, USACE, DTRA, USDA, NASA, USGS, BIA, GSA, USF&W, National Guard and various Tribal Governments. "These grants will help deliver energy more cost-effectively and will help the environment," Vilsack said. "Providing this funding is one of many ways that USDA helps grow the rural economy. When businesses and families spend less on fuel and electricity, they have more money to invest in the local economy. This helps create jobs and benefits entire communities." USDA is providing $7.9 million through the High Energy Cost Grant program, which is administered by USDA's Rural Utilities Service. Vilsack also noted that energy conservation, through programs like this, helps improve the environment by reducing carbon emissions and the use of fossil fuels. High Energy Cost Grants may be used to improve energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities in communities where the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average. Grants are available to businesses, non-profit groups, states, local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes. Tribes in Alaska and Arizona, as well as organizations in Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands, will also receive funding for a variety of utility upgrades. Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA has provided 52 grants totaling $64 million benefitting communities burdened by high fuel costs in 12 states, two U.S. territories and two areas of the Western Pacific. President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. Wind turbine technology has been providing energy in rural areas for several years. With this kind of technology available today, “our tribe could take control of the local grid with wind turbines and provide tribal members with free electricity,” stated Spotted Tail. Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter.
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USDA grants help Native communities address costs of energy (9/17)
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