As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, tribal lands emerge as a unique opportunity for renewable energy development. These areas, often rich in natural resources and cultural significance, provide a fertile ground for harnessing solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Not only do these projects offer substantial environmental benefits, but they also foster economic growth and energy independence for Indigenous communities. In this resource, we will explore the various advantages of utilizing tribal land for renewable energy initiatives and explore case studies of Tribal energy projects successes that have transformed the energy landscape while providing value to the Tribes.
Benefits of Renewable Energy on Tribal Land
Across the nation, private landowners, government agencies, and tribes are leasing their properties for clean energy development, aiming to produce renewable energy, generate revenue, and foster sustainability. The advantages of harnessing renewable energy on tribal lands are significant, encompassing environmental, social, economic, and cultural benefits. Currently, numerous tribes are capitalizing on wind, solar, and water to generate millions in revenue, create both short- and long-term jobs, and lower utility costs for their communities. This initiative not only combats climate change but also enhances energy independence.
Enhances Tribal Standard of Living
The development of renewable energy projects on Native American Tribal lands significantly enhances the standard of living for many tribal members. By installing solar panels and small wind turbines, electricity can be provided to rural areas, delivering power to the most remote areas of a reservation. Large wind farms not only generate a valuable resource but also create numerous high-quality jobs, including positions for electrical engineers, wind turbine technicians, and other related fields. This presents an opportunity for Tribes to boost employment rates, provide electricity to members far from the grid, and increase their overall revenue.
Produces Clean Energy
Renewable energy sources are nearly pollution-free, ensuring that the Tribe's air and water quality remains intact as energy availability increases. In this way, renewables align perfectly with tribal values, emphasizing harmony with nature. There are no mountains devastated for coal mining, no harmful gases released into the atmosphere, and no greenhouse gases produced to exacerbate global warming.
Generates Revenue for Tribes
Harnessing renewable energy presents Native American Tribes with a substantial resource that can generate consistent revenue and support the development of essential tribal infrastructure for large-scale projects. Solar and wind developers invest significant sums annually to lease land for their projects, with lease agreements typically spanning 20 to 40 years, depending on the specifics of the contract.
Tribal Energy Project Successes
According to the Office of Indian Energy Projects and Programs, there are currently more than 210 tribal energy projects, producing nearly 46 MW of clean energy.
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Rooftop Solar Farm
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria installed a 1.5 MW solar system on the rooftop of their casino in Sonoma County, CA. The system started generating solar energy in April 2022, effectively offsetting the energy consumption of the resort and casino. This initiative not only reduced FIGR's costs but also enhanced their commitment to environmental stewardship and community support. The Tribe's $1.6 million investment in the project was bolstered by a nearly $2.0 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy. Along with benefiting the Tribe, the energy and cost savings from the solar farm supports FIGR's efforts to serve the community through environmental and social justice programs and initiatives.
The Karuk Tribe's Community Solar Farm
The Karuk Tribe, situated in Northern California, is actively pursuing clean energy objectives while reducing reliance on traditional grid power. They are developing several grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems paired with battery storage. One significant project includes a 947-kilowatt (kW) ground-mounted solar PV system, projected to offset over 90% of the annual energy consumed by the casino and its office trailers.
Additionally, solar PV systems with battery backup will be installed in each of the 39 tribal-owned Elder Homes. This setup will address critical energy needs during grid outages, ensuring residents have power when it matters most. The Tribe also plans to power a new Wellness Center with an 18-kW roof-mounted solar PV array, anticipated to deliver a 96% energy offset.
Overall, these solar initiatives are expected to meet nearly 95% of the energy requirements for a significant number of tribal-owned buildings. The Tribe estimates savings of approximately $259,658 in the first year and a remarkable total of $13,404,241 over a 30-year period.
The Haulapi Tribe's Solar Plus Storage Facility
Grand Canyon West (GCW), home to the renowned Grand Canyon Skywalk, serves as the primary economic engine for the Hualapai Indian Tribe, attracting over 1 million visitors each year. To bolster the resilience of its isolated electrical generation system, the Tribe has installed a solar photovoltaic array combined with a battery system. This enhancement improves the system’s capacity to endure short-term outages and rising energy costs.
The solar-plus-storage system is designed to provide 50% of GCW's annual energy needs, supplementing existing diesel generators, and is projected to save the Tribe more than $450,000 annually in energy and maintenance expenses. Capable of generating approximately 1,600 megawatt-hours per year, this system can supply enough electricity to power 150 average American homes for a year. Over the 25-year lifespan of the system, the Tribe stands to benefit from around $11 million in total savings.
The Ute Mountain Tribe's Planned Solar Farm
Sun Bear, an enormous solar and battery storage installation in the Four Corners region of Colorado, will have more than two million solar panels spread across 5,500 acres of land belonging to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, part of the Weenuche Band of the Ute Nation. The project will begin construction towards the end of 2024. Overall, the project will generate an estimated 1,700 to 2,400 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. Additionally, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe will be getting paid lease payments by the solar developer for the use of the land. This long-term and predictable source of income will benefit the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for the 35-year lease term.
The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
The Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project is a 250-megawatt (MW) alternating current solar array situated on approximately 2,000 acres of the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Clark County, Nevada. Notably, it is the first large-scale solar initiative in North America to secure construction approval on tribal land. Developed and operated by First Solar, the project commenced in 2014 after being acquired from K Road Power Holdings, LLC, and became operational in 2017. During its construction, it created 115 jobs for tribal members and other Native Americans. The facility generates enough solar energy to power around 111,000 homes, and it also powered the 2024 Superbowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.
Opportunities to Grow Clean Energy on Tribal Land
According to The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), tribal lands contain an estimated 6.5% of utility-scale technical potential for U.S. renewable energy development on 5.8% of land area. New federal legislation reserves approximately $14 billion for 574 federally-recognized tribal climate responsiveness and energy sovereignty, presenting tribes with an opportunity to develop their economies and re-imagine energy projects on their terms. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 significantly expanded both the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Production Tax Credit (PTC), enhancing their accessibility for Tribes. Now, Tribes can receive a cash payment equivalent to the value of the tax credit for either installing a solar facility under the ITC or generating solar electricity through the PTC, allowing them to choose the option that best suits their needs.
Tribal lands have enormous potential for renewable energy. In fact, according to the Global Energy Network Institute, the wind resources on Tribal lands in the Great Plains alone could power over 50 million homes. There are many different sources of renewable energy that Native American tribes can leverage from their properties, but wind and solar are the most common.
LandGate can help tribes lease their land for renewable energy development to generate revenue and clean energy at no cost. By listing their properties for lease on LandGate's marketplace, tribal landowners can expose their available properties to a wide network of renewable energy developers actively planning new projects. Book a call with the government team at LandGate today to discuss the listing process and the potential for your tribe's specific properties:
