GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives
Solar Install for South Dakota’s Cohen Home Advances Sustainable Elder Care Services for Tribal Community
Revered for their wisdom and guidance, passing down tradition, culture, and values that shape the identity of the Sioux Tribe, elders at the Cohen Home have long been the backbone of their community. The assisted living facility serving 28 Oglala Sioux Tribe elders in southwestern South Dakota recently experienced a reduction in federal funding, jeopardizing plans to install an energy system designed to ease resource strain for the residents.
With a grant from All Points North Foundation, GRID Alternatives, through its Tribal-led affiliate Tribal Energy Alternatives, is partnering with Oglala Lakota Housing Authority to make the installation of a ground-mounted 90 kW solar system a reality. The system will generate 138,180 kWh annually for the Cohen Home on the Pine Ridge Reservation, which ranks as the third poorest area in America. Utility bills are expected to be offset by 86 percent, and approximately $9,177 per year will be saved in energy costs over the system’s 25-year lifetime. Three Tribal members will receive hands-on solar installation training in a region where unemployment remains alarmingly high at 22.7 percent.
Through Tribal Energy Alternatives, GRID Alternatives supports Tribal Nations in their pursuit of energy sovereignty through solar energy solutions, training and education, advocacy, and community empowerment aligned with the values and priorities of the Tribes. Since 2010, they have worked with more than 85 Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations across the country to support their renewable energy goals for a sustainable future. Their collective work includes installing over 11 MW of solar, training over 1,700 Tribal individuals, and deploying $13.3 million in capacity building and implementation grants, fellowships, internships, and scholarships.
Since its first installation in 2004, GRID Alternatives has deployed nearly 103 MW of clean energy benefiting over 33,600 income-qualified and Tribal households.
For more information: www.gridalternatives.org
Photo credit: GRID Alternatives
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All Points North Foundation
All Points North Foundation provides grants for U.S.-based projects and initiatives that support our priorities: improving public middle school education and teacher training, and implementing effective solar programs and/or projects.
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