Welcome to EMO Climate & Energy Projects
Energy projects on the Bishop Paiute Reservation have been centered around residential solar installations, solar workforce trainings, and youth educational trainings mainly in partnership with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire. Cooperation between Tribal departments and programs including TERO, Community Development Department, Tribal Historic Preservation, Administration, Youth Worker program and more, and a partnership with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire has allowed for 39 trainees, 14 apprenticeships, several youth trainees, and 210 residential rooftop PV system installs since the first DOE solar residential program in 2014. With the help of US Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) the Tribe drafted a Strategic Energy Plan in 2015. This will be updated Fall of 2024 in a renewed partnership with NREL.
Ongoing Projects
Multi Family Residential Solar Projects
In August 2023, the Tribe celebrated the installation of a 49-kW DC system at the Coyote Apartments. This is the first time the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Program (SOMAH) has funded a project on a tribal reservation. To learn more about this project, check out SOMAH’s website.
The 11 unit Arrowhead Apartments will have solar system operational by late summer 2024 following an extensive panel upgrade.
Single Family Residential Solar Projects
In 2014, the Bishop Paiute Tribe partnered with GRID Alternatives and through their Tribal Program has brought 210 residential rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems to the Bishop Paiute Reservation, exceeding the original goal of 200 systems by 2020. The Tribe now has a new goal of 300 systems by 2030 and continues to receive applications from low-income households to receive solar!
If you are a Bishop Paiute Tribal member interested in FREE solar for you home you can complete an application at the Tribal CDD office or by applying online here. For more information contact CDD at 760-872-4356. This is a first come, first served opportunity for low-income houses!
The Tribe has identified four (4) areas on the Bishop Reservation suitable for microgrid or facility solar deployment 1) Critical Facilities (HeadStart, Elders, Ed Center, Court and Wellness/Radio Station); 2) Administrative offices at Paiute Professional Center; 3) Tribal Commercial Park and finally 4) Casino/Hotel, Gas Station area. Following principles designed to reduce overall climate footprint the Tribe is working on plans to electrify major building systems in these areas coupled with increase in photoelectric generation via rooftop and carport systems. It is planned that these systems when deployed will be coupled with short term battery storage and longer-term emergency generation needs. Future funding and tribal capacity will govern the schedule of when this will be deployed
Facility Solar and Microgrids
In 2017, the Tribe initiated energy efficiency assessments in multifamily housing by partnering AEA (Association for Energy Affordability). Assessments were conducted for multifamily housing units and recommendations made to Tribe’s Community Development Department. As part of the project, several Tribal staff received training in building science and energy efficiency principles. Energy efficiency assessments' are now in progress for Tribal facilities.
The Tribe recently became the first tribal government to join SoCalREN. Authorized in 2012 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the SoCalREN provides services to residents, businesses, and public agencies throughout the areas served by Southern California Edison (SCE) and/or SoCalGas®. SoCalREN will be assisting AEA with the energy efficiency assessments.
Energy Efficiency
The Tribe has been selected for funding for funding through the SCE Charge Ready Schools Project. This project will bring six (6) Level 2 chargers to Ed Center parking lot for general use and to support future Tribal electric vehicle fleets. This project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by Fall 2024.
In the future, the Tribe has plans to add electric school shuttles, buses, and chargers to Bishop Indian Education Center, Bishop Indian Headstart bus fleet, and plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and chargers for the Elders program.
Electric Vehicles and Charging
Climate
The Tribe has completed a Preliminary Climate Action Plan in an initiative with Owens Valley Indian Water Commission (OVIWC) and Big Pine and Lone Pine Tribes involving a quantification of baseline climate impacts. The goal of this project is to identify and fund measures that could be employed to reduce GHG and increase carbon capture.
The Tribe has participated in Climate Indicator Plan with CA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). A video about this project will be published soon!
The Inyo National Forest, in collaboration with the Eastern Sierra Interpretative Association (ESIA) recently put together the above film featuring Bishop Paiute Tribal member and TEPA Board member Rick Napoles. The film can also be found here: The Sierra Nevada: Adapting to our Changing Climate.
Past Projects
First Steps
Running from 2017-2019, the First Steps project broke new ground in school-to-career training on the Reservation, by giving 10 students the chance to attend an intensive summer curriculum in solar industry skills, including the full trainee curriculum, and perform as team members on residential installs. Paid internships with GRID Alternatives for three students followed the initial training, which in turn was followed by a paid oine-year fellowship also with GRID for one of the students. This ambitious project brought advanced market-ready skills and income to Tribal youth and may be the vanguard for similar Tribal energy workforce building projects.
Solar Futures
The Solar Futures project in 2016 gave five youth students the opportunity to receive hands-on training, classroom training, field visits to solar local installations, and a clinic on the solar radiation monitoring equipment operated by the EMO Air Program. The students then put their skills to work as trainees on residential installs. The five students received a certificate of completion.
