Oceti Sakowin Solve Fellowship
Rock Solar Community Offset Project
Renewable energy workforce development production for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Solution Summary
The communities of Standing Rock pay some of the highest electricity costs in North and South Dakota. To solve the problem of affordable power, this project will build community offset solar power plants for reservation communities, providing up to 150 kilowatts of energy, with multiple pods for each community.
By reducing the cost of energy, these plants will allow residents to afford food, medication, clothes, housing, and an overall better quality of life while also providing hope and inspiration for generationally depressed communities.
The plans for this project include a pilot project for the Porcupine community in North Dakota with an initial capacity of 150 kilowatts.
Market Opportunity
With high winds and solar power, there’s substantial renewable energy potential on Standing Rock.
System access can be sold to those who want more power or to those outside the initial system.
Organization Goals
Use grant funding to start and move into a commercial production and installation of solar systems for community use
Expand to Porcupine, Cannonball, McLaughlin, and Little Eagle towns
Partnerships
Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Tribal Council
SolarCity
Partnership Goals
Business plan support for solar manufacturing
Impact measurement validation and support
Organizational mentorship
Technology mentorship
Investment from solar panel providers
Fellow Team
Organization Type:
Hybrid
Headquarters:
Fort Yates, ND, USA
Project Stage:
Prototype
Working in:
Standing Rock, ND, USA
Team Members:
5
Website:
http://standingrockdevelopment.com/
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Joseph McNeil President, Standing Rock Development Corporation
Developing Standing Rock's Renewable Energy Workforce
Fellow Rock Solar Community Offset Project received a $100,000 grant from the Bush Foundation in 2020 to develop a renewable energy workforce across the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Developing Standing Rock's Renewable Energy Workforce
Fellow Rock Solar Community Offset Project, which develops a renewable energy workforce across the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, received a $10,000 grant from Solve in 2018 for being selected as an Oceti Sakowin Solve Fellow.
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