Energy Department to Fund Eight Native American Tribes to Develop Renewable Energy.Business Editors GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2003 Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham Edward Spencer Abraham (born June 12, 1952 in East Lansing, Michigan) is a former United States Senator from Michigan. He had served as the 10th United States Secretary of Energy, serving under President George W. Bush. announced today that the Department of Energy (DOE) is making $1.3 million available to eight Native American tribes to advance the development of renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. technologies on tribal lands. "The Department of Energy is committed to helping Native American tribes develop clean, affordable and reliable energy options," Secretary Spencer Abraham said. "These projects encourage tribal self-sufficiency, help create jobs, improve our environmental quality and make our nation more secure." Among those receiving awards is the Duck Valley Indian Reservation The Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established as a homeland for members of both the Shoshone and Paiute tribes of Native Americans. It lies on the state line between Idaho and Nevada in the western United States. , home to bands of the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes. The reservation straddles the Nevada-Idaho border and is one of the most remote and thinly populated areas of the lower 48 states. At 453 square miles, the reservation is home to 1,100 people. The reservation's power supply is nearing capacity limit and has become chronically susceptible to outages. Multi-day system outages are not uncommon. These factors impact the Tribes' plans to promote economic development on the reservation, where the unemployment rate is around 40 percent. Ranging from the Owyhee River The Owyhee River is a tributary of the Snake River, approximately 200 miles (320 km) long, flowing through northern Nevada, southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon in the western United States. Valley to high desert country and mountains, the land on the reservation is quite diverse. Its high desert climate makes it a favorable location for solar radiation solar radiation, n the emission and diffusion of actinic rays from the sun. Overexposure may result in sunburn, keratosis, skin cancer, or lesions associated with photosensitivity. (90 percent plus days of sunshine in the summer, 70 percent plus days of sunshine in the winter). Several areas on the reservation also have high average annual wind speeds. The Tribe will explore using distributed renewable energy technologies to bring reliable electric power to more of the reservation. Other projects to receive DOE funding include: -- Tulalip Tribes of Washington (Snohomish County, Wash.) - A feasibility study The analysis of a problem to determine if it can be solved effectively. The operational (will it work?), economical (costs and benefits) and technical (can it be built?) aspects are part of the study. Results of the study determine whether the solution should be implemented. to develop one or more biogas bi·o·gas n. A mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by bacterial degradation of organic matter and used as a fuel. biogas Noun gaseous fuel produced by the fermentation of organic waste generation facilities to convert manure and other biomass resources into electricity. The biogas generation facility will help supply heat to tribal nursery and greenhouse operations and improve water quality in Snohomish Watershed streams and rivers. -- Taos Pueblo (Taos County, N.M.) -- A site-wide examination of the reservation to determine the best location for development of renewable energy technologies that respect the cultural beliefs of the tribe. -- Viejas Tribal Government (Alpine, Calif.) -- A feasibility study on the development of renewable energy technologies to ensure long-term electric price stability and increase investment opportunities. The tribe will search for available renewable energy options to use as the primary source for power generation. -- Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation (Owyhee, Nev. -- A feasibility study "A Feasibility Study" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 13 April, 1964, during the first season. It was remade in 1997 as part of the revived The Outer Limits series with a minor title change. is to address the reliability and deliverability of the electric distribution system on the Duck Valley Reservation. Secondary objectives include a reduction in energy-related expenditures by tribal businesses and households, creating jobs and preserving the environment. -- St. Croix Tribal Government (Northwestern Wisc.) -- The St. Croix Tribe's interest in sustainable economic development has led them to explore using locally available biofuel bi·o·fuel n. Fuel such as methane produced from renewable resources, especially plant biomass and treated municipal and industrial wastes. bi for power generation. A biofuel power project will leverage community assets and resources and provide a foundation for future sustainable development Sustainable development is a socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfilment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely. The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union . It will also help to meet power demands and reduce dependence on imported non-renewable energy sources. -- Cherokee Nation (Northeastern Okla.) -- A feasibility study to determine the future possibilities of a wind farm on the tribe's property in Kay County (north-central) Okla. This land consists of two tracts of fee and trust land totaling approximately 4,275 acres and is presently leased for grazing. -- Bristol Bay Native Corporation Bristol Bay Native Corporation, or BBNC, is one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) in settlement of aboriginal land claims. -- BBNC BBNC Briar Bush Nature Center (Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) (Southeast Alaska) -- The goal of BBNC's feasibility study is to comprehensively assess the renewable energy potential for the Bristol Bay Bristol Bay An arm of the Bering Sea in southwest Alaska between the mainland and the Alaska Peninsula. It is a rich salmon-fishing area. region of southwest Alaska Southwest Alaska is a region of the U.S. state of Alaska, part of the Alaska Bush. Geography Like all regions of the state, it has no formal boundaries; one rough definition includes the Aleutians East, Bristol Bay, Kodiak Island, and Lake and Peninsula boroughs and the . The region is comprised of 30 villages ranging from ten or fewer people to two large commercial centers, Dillingham and King Salmon/Naknek/South Naknek. With the exception of one hydroelectric project that provides power to three communities, diesel generators supply all electric power in the region. Given the economic and cultural importance of salmon and the salmon fisheries to the tribe, the economic, environmental, and social impact of a major diesel oil spill would be an enormous risk. Development of renewable energy resources would lower that risk. -- The Lower Brule Sioux Tribal Government (Lower Brule, S.D.) - A feasibility study to develop wind power generation combined with a hydroelectric system. Renewable Energy Development Renewable energy development covers the advancement, capacity growth, and use of renewable energy sources. Modern interest in renewable energy development is linked to concerns about exhaustion of fossil fuels and environmental, social and political risks of extensive use of fossil on Tribal Lands Native American Tribe and Location: The Tulalip Tribes -Marysville, Wash. (Snohomish County) Project Summary: A Feasibility Study of Using Dairy Manure for Biomass Renewable Energy Generation Proposed Funding: $378,794 Cost Share: $129,818 Native American Tribe and Location: Taos Pueblo - Taos County, N.M. Project Summary: Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Proposed Funding: $195,768 Cost Share: $0 Native American Tribe and Location: Viejas Tribal Government - Alpine, Calif. (east of San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. ) Project Summary: A Feasibility Study for Renewable Energy-Based Tribal Utility Proposed Funding: $130,578 Cost Share: $31,078 Native American Tribe and Location: Shoshone-Paiute Tribes - Owyhee, Nev. (reservation straddles Idaho and Nevada border) Project Summary: A Feasibility Study of Using Sustainable Distributed Generation Distributed generation generates electricity from many small energy sources. It has also been called also called on-site generation, dispersed generation, embedded generation, decentralized generation, decentralized energy or Technologies to Improve the Electric System on the Duck Valley Reservation Proposed Funding: $175,000 Cost Share: $25,000 Native American Tribe and Location: St. Croix Tribal Government - Barron, Burnett and Polk Counties in Northwestern Wisc. Project Summary: Biomass Feasibility Study Proposed Funding: $251,225 Cost Share: $0 Native American Tribe and Location: Cherokee Nation - Kay and Tulsa Counties in Northeastern Okla. Project Summary: Wind Power Feasibility Study Proposed Funding: $133,493 Cost Share: $3,468 Native American Tribe and Location: Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) - Southeast Alaska Project Summary: Bristol Bay Regional Cooperative Wind Power Feasibility Study Proposed Funding: $103,492 Cost Share: $0 Native American Tribe and Location: The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Tribal Government - Lower Brule, S.D. Project Summary: Wind/Hydro Integration Feasibility Study Proposed Funding: $150,000 Cost Share: $0 |
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