TSAF Grant Impact Stories
Powering Food Sovereignty Through Renewable Energy: Wozu, Inc. Brings Buffalo Back to Native Lands
The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) is helping Native communities build a future where renewable energy supports cultural revitalization, economic development, and Tribal sovereignty.
At Standing Rock, TSAF funding is helping Wozu, Inc. transform an aging agricultural barn into a solar-powered buffalo stewardship facility. The project is much more than a renewable energy installation—it represents an investment in food sovereignty, land stewardship, workforce development, and the restoration of buffalo to Native lands.
Solar energy will provide reliable power for buffalo handling operations, animal health activities, workforce training, and future expansion of regenerative agriculture initiatives. By reducing long-term operating costs, renewable energy allows more resources to be directed toward serving the community while creating opportunities for Tribal members to gain hands-on experience in solar installation, maintenance, and project development.
For Wozu, renewable energy is deeply connected to Tribal sovereignty. Affordable, locally generated power supports food production and storage, strengthens water infrastructure, and helps steward the land in ways that honor Indigenous values and traditions.
As Wozu continues to grow, its vision includes expanding solar energy across additional community-serving facilities, including greenhouses, food processing operations, cold storage, water systems, housing, and agricultural infrastructure.
By combining renewable energy with buffalo restoration and regenerative agriculture, Wozu is creating a model of sustainable development that strengthens both the land and the people, ensuring future generations inherit a healthier, more resilient community.
“TSAF funding is helping Wozu transform an aging agricultural barn into a solar-powered buffalo stewardship facility. This project supports the return of buffalo to Native lands while creating infrastructure that strengthens food sovereignty, land stewardship, and workforce development. The funding allows us to install renewable energy systems that will provide reliable power for buffalo handling operations, animal health activities, training opportunities, and future expansion of our regenerative agriculture efforts.” –Dave Archambault II – CEO of Wozu, Inc.
“The partnership with TSAF and TEA has given us confidence that we have support as we pursue renewable energy projects here at the Pueblo of Santa Ana. In short, the funding delivered clean energy infrastructure, strengthened a vital community facility, and created real workforce and economic opportunities for Pueblo members.” –Perdita Wexler – Santa Ana Pueblo Grants Project Specialist
Renewable Energy Creates Opportunity at Santa Ana Pueblo
The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) is helping the Pueblo of Santa Ana build a more sustainable future by investing in clean energy, workforce development, and community resilience.
Through a partnership with Tribal Energy Alternatives (TEA), the Pueblo installed a 138-kilowatt solar array on the Tamaya Wellness Center in 2024, with an additional 208-kilowatt expansion planned for 2026. Together, these projects move the Wellness Center closer to its goal of becoming a net-zero facility by 2032 while strengthening the Pueblo’s long-term commitment to climate resilience.
The Tamaya Wellness Center serves as a vital gathering place for the community, offering recreational facilities, fitness programs, commercial and demonstration kitchens, and wellness services. By generating clean, renewable electricity onsite, the facility can reduce energy costs while continuing to provide essential services for community members.
TSAF funding has also delivered lasting workforce benefits. A Capacity Building Grant supported the hiring of a sustainability electrician with solar expertise for the Pueblo’s Public Works Department, helping establish long-term technical capacity within the community.
Equally important, the partnership has created meaningful career pathways for Tribal members. At least twelve Pueblo members have participated in hands-on solar training through TEA, with two participants already securing full-time employment. These opportunities are helping develop a skilled Native clean energy workforce while creating family-supporting careers.
For the Pueblo of Santa Ana, TSAF funding represents more than solar panels, it is an investment in community self-reliance, economic opportunity, and a cleaner, more resilient future. As new renewable energy projects continue to emerge, the partnership with TEA and TSAF provides the confidence and technical support needed to advance the Pueblo’s long-term sustainability goals.
Building Energy Sovereignty for Future Generations: Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority, with assistance from TSAF funding in partnership with Google, is turning their vision of Tribal energy sovereignty into reality by investing in renewable energy, workforce development, and community resilience.
Through supporting funding, the Housing Authority has launched residential solar initiatives that demonstrate renewable energy is both achievable and beneficial for Tribal communities. The projects are helping Tribal leadership and community members see firsthand how clean energy can reduce household energy costs, strengthen self-sufficiency, and create lasting economic opportunities.
For many families, particularly Tribal Elders living on fixed incomes and low-income households, renewable energy offers meaningful relief from rising utility costs. As solar projects continue to expand, more community members are recognizing the value of investing in sustainable energy solutions that improve quality of life while reducing dependence on outside energy sources.
Beyond the immediate energy savings, TSAF funding is laying the foundation for a Tribal clean energy workforce. The Housing Authority is using this opportunity to train Tribal members in renewable energy installation, operations, and maintenance, creating skilled jobs that can be sustained within the community for years to come. Building local expertise ensures future energy projects can be developed and maintained by Tribal members, further advancing energy sovereignty.
The success of these projects is also inspiring broader renewable energy initiatives throughout the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. As interest grows in expanding renewable energy, including exploring wind power to support Tribal enterprises, the Housing Authority continues to pursue new funding opportunities that will bring additional clean energy projects to Tribal homes and community facilities.
By investing in people as much as infrastructure, TSAF is helping the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority build a future where renewable energy supports economic opportunity, strengthens Tribal sovereignty, and preserves resources for generations to come.
“The TSAF has opened up incredible opportunities for our tribe and within the energy sector. This funding has demonstrated to our tribal members and leadership that we can advance towards renewable and sustainable energy while working towards energy sovereignty. Our community has recognized the progress made possible by the Accelerator Funding and the milestones we’ve reached.” –Andres Lonebear – Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority Energy Coordinator
