Community Energy Awards and Projects
The Tribal Energy Capacity Building Grant, provided by GRID Alternatives’ Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund, helps Tribes build human capacity and expertise to advance Tribal energy resilience programs and projects. CTWS applied for and won a $200,000 award to fund one or more positions over two years to support the Tribe as it plans and develops clean energy projects on the Warm Springs Reservation.
The Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program supports the planning and development of community energy and resilience projects. CTWS applied for and won a $1 million grant to install a commercial-scale solar and battery system at the Indian Head Casino. This system will provide backup power during grid outages and reduce Indian Head’s monthly electricity costs. This is the first step in creating a community resilience center for the Tribe to use during extreme weather events and wildfires.
Utility Energy Awards and Projects The U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office named CTWS as one of the first winners of its Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) Grant. The $250 million grant will support planning and development activities for the upgrade of an existing high-voltage transmission line connecting the Warm Springs Reservation to the load centers west of the Cascade Range.This upgraded transmission line will position CTWS to be a leader in clean energy, allowing the Tribe to develop utility-scale solar generation that will create jobs and long-term revenue for the Tribe.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project provides technical assistance to remote communities, including Tribes, to help these communities improve the resilience of local energy systems. CTWS applied for and received two years of technical planning assistance and a supporting $50,000 grant to advance Tribe-owned solar power generation projects on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program supports Tribes as they build community resilience. CTWS won a $248,000 climate resilience award, which will help the Tribe develop the necessary studies and planning to evaluate the cost and benefits of Tribe-owned solar generation projects, which would create jobs and ongoing revenue for CTWS.