Oglala Lakota Housing Authority: Cohen Memorial Home & Residential
The Tribal Energy Alternatives construction crew trains local trainees on the roof at a Oglala Lakota Housing Authority rental unit. Photo: Marie Kills Warrior
The ground mount system at the Pine Ridge Cohen Home, near completion of construction.
SUMMARY
In an effort to assert more control over increasing energy costs, Oglala Lakota Housing Authority (OLHA) collaborated with Tribal Energy Alternatives (TEA) to install a 100 kW-DC ground mount system at the Cohen Memorial Home, an assisted living facility, and 10 residential projects totaling 80 kW-DC. All projects were located within the tribal land of the Pine Ridge Reservation, Oglala Lakota territory. The systems provide economic and environmental benefits to OLHA, as well as directly to Tribal Members, and provide a platform for increased energy production and job creation. OLHA identified 4 interested Tribal members to participate in the paid training portion of the installation, and all trainees participated in the installation of the project, and completed CPR/1st Aid certifications, as well as OSHA 10!
$22,000 in direct savings to Tribal Members and the Oglala Lakota Housing Authority
PROJECT METRICS
- 153 kW-DC of solar installed
- 405 total solar panels
- 4 local trainees
- Year 1 savings: $22,000
- 25 Years of Savings: $690,000
- Over 25 years, the environmental impact is equivalent to:
- 5 Million lbs. of CO2 avoided
- 340,000 gallons Gas saved
- 50,000 trees planted