Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe installs solar.

Part V – Examples of what’s being done to assist with power production and mitigate climate change with Tribes in the Owens Valley and elsewhere.

Provided by the Fort Independence Environmental Climate Change Working Group

Chair: Dennis Mattinson

Intro

Solar energy seems like a logical solution to help mitigate climate change and answer the power needs of the western United States, which can receive over 300 sunny days a year.  Native American Tribes have recognized the need to be proactive in helping to reverse the effects of greenhouse gases. 

Fort Independence Indian Reservation

The Fort Independence Indian Reservation has installed a new solar array to power their meteorological and air sampling station.  Solar powered lighting has been installed at their travel plaza, and they are planning to solar power their tribal and environmental offices.

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe has installed 11 solar arrays, totaling 540kw of power. This system was installed to help reduce their energy costs and as a side light, assists with reduction of Greenhouse gasses. 
Moapa River Paiute Tribe

The Moapa River Paiute Tribe is set to begin construction on a 910,000 panel solar plant capable of generating 350 MW of solar power. This is largest solar plant to be built to date on tribal land and is set to break ground this fall. This is a commercial plant to supply power for their Reservation needs and to sell power to the Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles.