Indianz.Com > News > Native America Calling: Tribal solar projects shine on without much federal support
Native America Calling
Listen to Native America Calling every weekday at 1pm Eastern.
Native America Calling: Tribal solar projects shine on without much federal support
Monday, July 13, 2026
Tribal solar projects shine on without much federal support
Tribal officials and renewable energy advocates are celebrating a major legal victory after an administrative judge in Minnesota ruled in favor of the Upper Sioux Community and the tribe’s solar-powered casino.
The dispute centers on the tribe’s right to supplement its power with on-site solar energy. It also highlights the friction between tribal sovereignty and local utility monopolies.
In federal court, a separate legal battle is underway to reclaim frozen funding from the $7 billion “Solar for All” program that had been championed by the prior administration. Despite the federal standstill, Minnesota tribes like the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation are forging ahead, successfully building their own solar infrastructure to secure energy independence.
a href=”https://indianz.com/News/2022/03/16/red-lake-nation-secures-first-federal-approval-for-energy-developments/redlakenation/” rel=”attachment wp-att-22224″>
Guests on Native America Calling
Robert Blake (Red Lake Nation), founder and CEO of Solar Bear, a business in Minnesota, and executive director of Native Sun Community Power Development, a non-profit in Minnesota
Nathan Mathews, executive director of the White Earth Nation Tribal Utility Commission on the White Earth Nation in Minnesota
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (July 13, 2026)
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation builds largest and best tribal healthcare system
Native America Calling: Tribal solar projects shine on without much federal support
Native America Calling: Native student discipline disparities persist at New Mexico school district
Indian boarding school healing efforts face challenges at national level
Native America Calling: Native programs aimed at cultivating responsible tourism
Native America Calling: Trump Administration escalates attack on Native American museum narratives
Cronkite News: United States falters in World Cup following intervention by President Trump
Native America Calling: Finding success through the art of contemporary horsemanship
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (July 6, 2026)
Chuck Hoskin: Recommitting to an America that keeps promises to tribal nations
Native America Calling: Two Native artists making waves in the arts world
Native America Calling: Native Hall of Fame recognizes leaders and advocates whose work benefits tribes and community
Native America Calling: Native historians elevate overlooked history in the wake of America250 celebrations
Native America Calling: Native food and America’s origins, a tribal vineyard and an ‘Indigenous’ cafe
More Headlines
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation builds largest and best tribal healthcare system
Native America Calling: Tribal solar projects shine on without much federal support
Native America Calling: Native student discipline disparities persist at New Mexico school district
Indian boarding school healing efforts face challenges at national level
Native America Calling: Native programs aimed at cultivating responsible tourism
Native America Calling: Trump Administration escalates attack on Native American museum narratives
Cronkite News: United States falters in World Cup following intervention by President Trump
Native America Calling: Finding success through the art of contemporary horsemanship
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (July 6, 2026)
Chuck Hoskin: Recommitting to an America that keeps promises to tribal nations
Native America Calling: Two Native artists making waves in the arts world
Native America Calling: Native Hall of Fame recognizes leaders and advocates whose work benefits tribes and community
Native America Calling: Native historians elevate overlooked history in the wake of America250 celebrations
Native America Calling: Native food and America’s origins, a tribal vineyard and an ‘Indigenous’ cafe
More Headlines