Indigenized Energy has successfully completed the first Solar for All kickoff projects in the nation, working with the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Box Elder, Montana, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Porcupine and Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Both Tribes are part of the 14-member Tribal Renewable Energy Coalition (TREC), which was awarded $135.5 million in Solar for All funding from the EPA in 2024. These initial projects were fully funded by Indigenized Energy, ensuring that the Tribes did not bear any costs.
The kickoff projects serve as the first step in a larger effort to bring solar energy to Tribal communities. A key component of this initiative is no-cost workforce training, where all trainees are compensated for their time. Indigenized Energy partnered with Red Cloud Renewable, a nonprofit focused on solar workforce development, to provide training for the Oglala Sioux project. This program included participants from five different Tribes: the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and Yankton Sioux Tribe.
Meanwhile, the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s kickoff project trained 13 participants from Chippewa Cree-Rocky Boy in solar energy programs. By completing these initial projects, Indigenized Energy has set the stage for a broader transition to renewable energy in Tribal communities, ensuring both sustainability and economic opportunity for the future.
Harlan Baker, Tribal Chairman, Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana, said “The Solar for All kickoff project was a great opportunity for the Chippewa Cree Tribe and its community members. It showcased the new technology that will be coming to our homes. We, as a Tribe, look forward to improving our energy independence and sustainability, as well as providing new employment opportunities to our people and increasing awareness and interest in a growing industry.”
Indigenized Energy received over 100 applications for the approximately 30 trainee positions in the kickoff projects. All selected trainees identified as Indigenous, a significant milestone in an industry where Native Americans make up less than 1% of the solar workforce nationwide. As of January 2025, six trainees from the Solar for All kickoff projects have secured full-time jobs in the solar industry, demonstrating the program’s potential to create career opportunities and support economic growth in Tribal communities.
Both the Chippewa Cree and Oglala Sioux projects include residential solar installations that provide around 8kW of clean, affordable energy to participating homes. These systems also feature home batteries, which help reduce costs and improve energy resilience during power outages. The next round of Solar for All kickoff projects is scheduled for Spring 2025, once weather conditions are favorable.
