BISHOP PAIUTE TRIBE CELEBRATES CALIFORNIA’S SECOND TRIBAL SOMAH FUNDED SOLAR INSTALLATION

[Bishop Paiute Reservation, CA, April 18, 2026]—The Bishop Paiute Tribe is celebrating the installation of a 29 kW DC rooftop solar system, part of the Tribe’s continuing sustainable energy plan, which seeks to improve energy efficiency for reservation residents by adding renewable energy resources. The project was installed in part with funding from the California Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program at the Tribe’s Arrowhead Trails apartments. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the facility at 10:00 AM on April 18th, 2026.

The project is the second SOMAH Program incentivized installation to be completed within a tribal reservation in the state. This solar installation will provide significant energy savings for the 14 households in the Arrowhead Trails apartments.

The solar project is a partnership between the Bishop Paiute Tribe Community Development Department and GRID Alternatives Southern California (GRID SoCal). The solar installation was completed by Sierra Solar, a local contractor, via GRID Alternatives’ Subcontractor Partnership Program.

GRID SoCal supported the Tribe through each milestone of the process from program enrollment to project completion. This Tribal project was fully funded by a generous rebate from the SOMAH incentive program and a donation from the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund grant from the Sempra Foundation. The project also included a large electrical upgrade that the Tribe contributed to for the project’s completion.

“The Bishop Tribe is excited to extend renewable solar to the Tribe’s second and final multifamily housing project,” says Brian Adkins, Urban Planner for the Tribe. “The ribbon-cutting today represents the ongoing dedication of our housing program and the tribal council toward meeting the Tribe’s long-term renewable energy goals.”

“From our first solar installation with the Bishop Paiute Tribe 12 years ago, to the historic first Tribal SOMAH project in 2023, and now this most recent and second SOMAH-funded solar project at Arrowhead Trails Apartments, GRID SoCal is proud of its long partnership of delivering renewable energy solutions to tribal residents. We look forward to deepening and expanding our partnership with the Bishop Paiute Tribe for decades to come,” said Jaime Alonso, Executive Director, GRID Alternatives Southern California.

 

Monica De La Cruz, Manager of Marketing Education & Outreach, SOMAH, continued, “SOMAH is honored to collaborate with the Bishop Paiute Tribe in our shared mission to empower communities through renewable energy. By bringing over 29 kilowatts of solar to Arrowhead Trails Apartments, we aim to provide tangible benefits to the residents, such as energy bill savings, allowing them to allocate more resources towards their families. We look forward to continuing to enhance our partnerships with Tribal communities, including the Bishop Paiute Tribe, in our shared pursuit of building an equitable, sustainable future.”

The completion of the Arrowhead Trails Apartments solar project underscores the Bishop Paiute Tribe’s continued leadership in advancing clean energy solutions that directly benefit tribal residents. As the Tribe moves forward with its long-term renewable energy goals, this installation stands as another important investment in affordability, sustainability, and community resilience.

 

About the Bishop Paiute Tribe

The Bishop Paiute Tribe is located at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Bishop, CA, and is the fifth largest tribe in California, with over 2,000 enrolled members. The Tribe provides members with various programs and services and operates a variety of tribal-owned entities and enterprises. The Tribe is engaged in progressive development and highly values self-sufficiency and self-reliance, and is committed to being a strong, self-governing sovereign nation.

About GRID Alternatives Southern California

GRID Alternatives Inland Empire (GRID SoCal) envisions a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone. Our mission is to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. GRID SoCal opened in April 2011, and its success is derived from its triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Employment. Each solar project yields three-pronged results: savings for low-income families, hands-on experience for people interested in the solar industry, and environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased environmental awareness.

About SOMAH

The Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program provides up to $100 million annually in financial incentives for installing photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on multifamily affordable housing in California. The program’s unique, community-based approach ensures long-term, direct economic benefits for low-income households, helps catalyze the market for solar on multifamily housing, and creates jobs. SOMAH is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission and funded through the greenhouse gas allowance auction proceeds of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, Liberty Utilities Company, and PacifiCorp. SOMAH aims to install 300 megawatts of generating capacity by 2032. For more information, please visit calsomah.org.